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What's a Capon 



and Why 






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Copyrighted 1913, 1914, 1915. 



By GEORGE BEUOY. 



PRICE FIFTY CENTS 



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eg***. 

George Beuoy's Start On The Farm 



First printed in the Kansas City Star, February, 1912. A 
mechanic had written the Star that he had $800, and asked 
for advise as to investing- in a farm. The Star wrote four 
agricultural college presidents and a number of farmers, stat- 
ing they would give a prize for and publish the best answer. 
The following actual experience, written by Mr. Beuoy won, 
and was published as follows: 



Dingley Dell Farm, Cedarvale, Kas. — To the Star : "Mechan- 
ic" is in about the same position as I found myself several years 
ago. Perhaps it will prove useful and interesting to him to know 
how we solved the problem. 

At that time 1 was agent for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa 
Fe railway at a small town in Oklahoma. I was drawing a good 
salary, had a wife and three small children and had saved up 
a trifle over $800. I did not know much about farming, in fact 
it had been the chief desire of my parents that I should not know 
anything about farming. While it is true that I came from farm- 
er stock and was raised until I was of school age on the farm, 
as an only child my parents were determined that I should be 
something besides a farmer. 

In common with many other farmers they were possessed 
with the mistaken idea that the farmers are the worst abused 
people on earth, and that old idea was hammered into me at 
every opportunity. As soon as I was out of the eight grade 'I 
was hurried away to high school at Independence, Kas., where 
I was given a four-year course and a finishing year at Salina. 

As soon as I finished school the folks at home decided that 
it would not be well to let me taste farm life and I was placed 
in a Western Union office to learn telegraph work. I worked 
with that company for some time and afterwards held various 
positions with the Santa Fe Railway Company, seeing service at 
many points in Kansas and Oklahoma. 

Small Things That Result Big. 

I mention these facts in order to make my position clear and 
to show just how much I really knew about farming. I have just 
two things from my city life and railroad work that I really appre- 
ciate. These two things are all that I care to remember. I expect 
to keep them as long as I live. One is a letter of recommendation 
from S. M.- Neice, superintendent of Independence, Kas., city 
schools, and the other is my official tabulated record while with 
the Santa Fe, signed by Superintendent Barnes of the Southern 
Kansas and T. J. Whisenand of the Panhandle Division, together 

Page One 



with a personal letter from them stating that they would be 
pleased to send me transportation whenever I wanted to go to 
work again. These papers are official evidence that I am farming 
from choice and not from necessity. 

I have noticed that certain small things bring very large re- 




GEORGE BEUOY 

Pronounced like it was spelled Bowie. You can remember it by just think- 
ing of a BOWIE-knife. Leave the knife off and you have it. In fact the 
Bowie-knife was first invented and used by Mr. Beuoy's great uncle, who met his 
death side by side with Davy Crockett at "The Alamo," with his favorite 
weapon in his hand and a pile of Mexicans in front of him. 

George Beuoy is often referred to as the CAPON KING. His lectures 
with the Missouri State Poultry Board under the management of T. E. Quis- 
enberry have made him well known in that state. During the fall of 1913 
and the first few months of 1914, Mr. Beuoy has lectured and demonstrated 
at and judged poultry shows, besides many lectures at agricultural colleges 
and state normal schools. He has also made extended lecture trips in many 
states with special agriculture trains, and many of the readers will recognize 
him from the picture above. He has lectured to at least 100,000 people with- 
in the last six months. 

Mr. Beuoy has spent many years raising chickens, is a breeder of note, 
has exhibited his Barred Plymouth Rock chickens at all of the large shows 
of the Central West for many years and has won his full share of honors. Mr. 
Beuoy owns and operates the Dingley Dell Farm, an exclusive chicken ranch 
of 160 acres five miles south of Cedar Vale, Kan., R. R. No. 3, and it is hert 
that he first equipped with the very latest and best machinerv a real FARM 
FACTORY for making the George Beuoy Capon Tool. "FIFTY YEARS IN 
ADVANCE." TESTED, AUTOMATIC, SAFE, GUARANTEED. 



snlts "sometimes" and the little thing that changed me from a 
hireling to a man of my own was a box of strawberries. It was 
along in the spring time and strawberries had jnst begun to arrive 
by express, when a little lady received a case of berries at my 

Page Two © CI. A 4 1 4 7 6 

JUN2I 1915 



office. She came to the office to get them herself, and as she was 
signing up for them I suppose I was looking rather wistfully at 
them. At any rate I remember that I was thinking of the old 
farm back home and the big strawberry patch. 

When the lady had signed for the berries she said, "Mr. 
Agent, I wish you would open the crate for me, I should like to see 
if they are in good condition.'" I opened them up for her and she 
took out two boxes and set them on the counter and walked out. 
That was the first, last and only kind act I ever knew to happen 
to a railroad agent. I knew it was time for me to quit and I wrote 
my resignation that evening and sent it in. 

I have had a strawberry patch of my own every year since 
with lots of berries and sure enough Jersey cream on 'em, too. 

The Purchase. 

In a few weeks I was checked out. I never stopped to figure 
what I was going to do. I knew there was no doubt about it. I 
was going to farm. I "hiked" back to the old home community, 




MRS. GEORGE BEUOY. 

The little lady that has made the Dingley Dell Barrel Plymouth Rock 
chickens famous. She is the one that really raised the chicks. She set the 
hens and tended to the little ones. With the help of Father Capon she has 
produced many state show winners in the last six years. 

Note the hat. The trimming- is made of Barred Plymouth Rock feathers 
plucked from state show winning pullets, bred, raised and exhibited by Mrs. 
Beuoy. 

If you want to know anything about Barred Plymouth Rock chickens 
write her. She has, and is, making a success of the poultry business. Mrs. 
Beuoy is an expert caponizer and will take pleasure in explaining any doubt- 
ful points to the ladies. 

Page Three 



and was fortunate enough to find an old family friend that had 
a farm to sell. There was one hundred and sixty acres of it with 
about the usual farm buildings, and as it had been rented for a 
number of years everything was in pretty bad shape. They were 
willing to sell it to me for $3,000. Of course I did not have that 
amount of money, but I did have $500 that I felt that I could pay 
down as first payment. I explained to the owner the exact situa- 
tion, and after thinking it over, the $500 was accepted as first pay- 
ment, and a mortgage taken for the balance, to run five years at 
6 per cent. 

Now I had the farm, the wife and babies and $300 to make 
good with. The first thing that we bought was fifty Barred Ply- 
mouth Rock hens and three roosters. These were pure bred birds, 
and I was in luck to get the bunch for $50. The eggs they laid the 
first fall and winter just about kept us in groceries after paying 
their feed bill. 

We bought two Jersey cows for $60 (they were cheaper then 
than now). That left $190 to get a team. I found a team of 
young mules that had been battered up pretty badly in some heavy 
railroad work, and I bought the span for $150. They were blem- 
ished about the legs and shoulders, and were sore and very stiff 
from rough usage, but I felt sure with good care and rest they 
would come out and make a fair work team by spring, and 
they did. 

In less than a year's time I realized $300 cash for them from 
a regular mule buyer. I then bought a good span of mares with 
the money. 

Bargains in Farm Tools. 

Now I had the team to do the work, but lacked the equipment 
to farm and had no money. Along about that time, however, I 
noticed a good many farm sales advertised, with terms all sums of 
over $10 one year's time without interest. The rest was simple: 
To get my farm equipment all I had to do was to buy more than 
$10 worth at a time and satisfy the clerk of the sale that I was 
good for the amount, which I was always able to do. And I wish 
to add that I secured in that way a first class set of tools such as 
I really needed at a surprisingly low cost, just about one-fifth of 
what I would have had to pay for new ones. In many instances 
they were just as good to me as new ones. 

It was not all fun by any means. We all of us just simply got 
right down close to Nature and stayed with it. That first winter I 
pulled a cross-cut saw a good deal of the time and blistered my 
hands up in pretty bad shape, too, but I liked it and I would 
rather do it today than balance a set of books for any old firm. 
We did not run any store bills. The hens helped out a lot about 
that part and my wife made a little butter to sell and we bought 

Page Four 



at the stores just what we could pay for and did without the rest. 
We raised a good crop that first year and were able to meet 
our payments and had a little left over. Now that was several 
years ago. We owe $2,000 on the place, having renewed the mort- 
gage, but we have made many improvements that have cost con- 
siderable cash. We have built onto the house, have one of the best 
poultry houses going and considerable stock. Our total sales from 
the farm last season was $1,186.34. Almost $100 a month over 
and above the living expense of the entire family. So we feel 
that we are doing well, perhaps not making so much money as we 
did on a salary, but we are saving ten times as much and are 
enjoying life. The farmer game is well worth playing. It's fine 
to enjoy that free and easj^ feeling that comes only to those who 
are their own boss. 

Independence at Last. 

We have enough stock and salable stuff on hands that we 
could cash in at any time and pay our mortgage off, and I have 
never seen the job that I would exchange our farm for. 

Now, if Mr. Mechanic has got that farmer feeling and his wife 
has it, too, there is no good reason why they can't make a go of it 
with that $800 of his. But they will have to work together. No 
poor man can start on a farm and make a real success of it except 
he have a good wife to help. There will be seasons when the crop 
is short and the wife's end of the business will bring in more ready 
money than all the rest of the farm. 

I note that Mechanic wants to know what proportion of cows, 
pigs, etc., to get with his $800. There will not be any proportion 
to it, my dear Mechanic. Just you get a cow, a sow pig, a few 
well bred hens and do without everything else that you possibly 
can for the first year or so and the rest will come automatically to 
your notice. The things that you just have to have will stick up 
before you in a way that you can't dodge and there will be no 
doubt about it. If there is just pass it up and do without. That's 
real ' ' Scientific ' ' farming, and the only kind a poor man can do. 
But if followed out correctly you will soon be in position to do as 
you like and have what you want without asking any "old man- 
ager" about it. GEORGE BEUOY. 

Dingley Dell Farm. 



Made 500 Capons, Had Fine Luck 

Mulvane, Kansas, Sept. 9th, 1913. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — We received the No. 10 capon set O. K. and were 
pleased with it . We have operated on about five hundred (500) 
and had fine luck. The birds are doing fine. 

Yours truly, 

E. D. FISHER. 



Page Five 



Dingley Dell Farm 

A Chicken Ranch 



The home of the Celebrated Dingley Dell Strain of Barred 
Plymouth Rock chickens, the greatest laying strain on earth. 

Birds bred and raised on the Dingley Dell Farm have won 
more premiums at the really great poultry shows of the Central 
West than those from any other one strain. The seasons of 1910 to 
1914 Mr. Beuoy exhibited at the Kansas State Show, winning four 
first prizes and many minor places; next he shipped an entirely 
different pen of birds to the Big Four State Intermountain Show 
at Ogden, Utah, where thirteen thousand people paid admission 
the first day of the show, winning first, second and third pullet, 
besides prizes on pen and cockerel. A truly great performance, 
considering the fifteen hundred mile ship and the hot competition. 
Following these great shows Mr. Beuoy showed next at the Mis- 
souri State Show at Kansas City, and then at Independence, Kan., 
where he made a clean sweep of all the first prizes in a large class 
of birds, closing the season at Topeka, Kan., at the National 
Barred Rock Show where his winning cockerel was the center of 
attraction. Few, if any, breeders of Barred Rocks can show as 
good a record in as many real large shows in as widely separated 
sections as that established by Mr. Beuoy. His winning record of 
thirty-nine first prizes in the seasons just past is a record by itself, 
to say nothing of the specials and minor places that his birds have 
won. 

The Dingley Dell Farm contains one hundred and sixty acres 
devoted exclusively to raising the best farm chickens on earth. 
Over two miles of chicken tight fence used in making the yards 
for the special mating. Exhibition, quality, small, special matings, 
the rule; only two hundred females kept to use as breeders, and 
our entire time is devoted to them. The Dingley Dell Farm has 
been called the ten thousand dollar chicken ranch; in reality it 
represents a much larger investment. The Dingley Dell Barred 
Plymouth Rocks are the Bred-to-Lay strain, with the winning 
habit bred in. 

Cockerels, hens and pullets for sale at all times. Show birds, 
fit to win in any company, a specialty. Good breeding females at 
two dollars each and up, depending on the individual quality. 
Cockerels are three dollars each and up. We cannot afford to sell 
the pick of the cockerels for less, as CAPONS sold in bunches 
on the open market AVERAGE US THREE DOLLARS each. 
Only the best cockerels are kept for breeders. We must have as 
much for them as they would bring as Capons. 

Page Six 




WEAL PLYfWTfl ROCK ftflAlt 



1Vi;-7, \k ;»a=A«tP!'«i?n.-i<VTnR<>cK club 

'"« Tf • ' ' '•' '• CUMiSMTUP <t=» 



An Ideal Barred Plymouth Rock Pullet — the Kind Found on the Dingley Dell 

Farm, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Price of Setting E££s 



We will have but one grade of eggs to sell for setting pur- 
poses this season — the best : these will be from our special exhibi- 
tion matings, from our bred-to-lay prize winning blood. We are 
going to sell these eggs at five dollars per setting ; two settings for 
nine dollars; 14 eggs to the setting. 

GUARANTEE — We guarantee the eggs to be strictly fresh, 
nice smooth eggs, from special mated prize winning stock. Should 
you fail to hatch as many as nine chicks from each setting pur- 
chased of us we will replace the setting at one-half price. Satis- 
faction guaranteed or your money back. Please do not send per- 
sonal checks, as we have to pay exchange on them. Remit by 
Bank Draft, Postoffice Money Order or Express Order. Make 
them payable to GEORGE BEUOY, Cedar Vale, Kan. 

Life member of American Poultry Association. 

Member American Plymouth Rock Club. 



Very Successful ; Lost Only One Out of Eighty 

Chehalis, Wash., November 4th, 1913. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — As per your offer in "What's a Capon, and Why?" 
I am enclosing a stamp for reply. Have been very successful with 
the No. 10 set of tools bought of you, and have 80 capons, with 
more to operate on. Have only lost one, and that from crowding 
at night. Thanking you in advance for the favor, I beg to remain, 
sincerely yours, 

H. T. CLIPPINGER, 1555 Market St. 



Page Seven 




A George Beuoy Capon ready for the market, weight 12 pounds, worth 20 
cents a pound on the cheapest market in the country, and worth 30 cents a 
pound on any Eastern market, or 25 cents a pound on any Western market. 
Which would you prefer, old tough rooster or a bird like this? 



Made 250 Capons Without a "Slip." 

Springfield, Minn., December 8, 1913. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — 'Kindly let me know what you can furnish me six 
cockerels for. I made 250 capons this year and don't think I have 
a "slip." I never made a capon before this year or even saw it done. 

Yours truly, 

JULES J. MAUGET. 

(Note: Mr. Mauget used George Beuoy's No. 10 set of tools.) 



Page Eight 



What's a Capon and Why? 

Copyrighted 1912 
Copyrighted 1914 
Copyrighted 1915 

A capon is an unsexed male bird. They are not hatched that 
way. To become a capon a young male bird must be operated on 
in much the same manner as any other male animal intended for 
eating purposes. The operation correctly* performed, the capon 
grows to twice the size he would, had he been left entire. His 
flesh is the juiciest, sweetest and most tender of any known meat, 




A Rooster. Note the Slim Body, Heavy Comb and "Elecky" Appearance Not 

Found in the Capon. 

selling for much more per pound than any other kind of fowl. In 
fact, the capon has become a modern necessity. Formerly, capon 
was the most expensive luxury to be had. Capon in the olden 
times was the crowning event in the feast of the ancient kings 
and queens. Capons are still the greatest delicacy that can be 
placed before the particular epicure. Their rich, wholesome, ten- 
Page Nine 



der flesh contains the life-giving, brain-forming, strength-produc- 
ing food that is required by the high strung workingman of mod- 
ern times, be his work indoors or out. 

Modern invention and ingenuity have placed the capon within 
the reach of every one with energy and ambition enough to feed 
and care for a chicken. In order to have some capons, all that is 
necessary is to remove the young cockerel's reproducing organs. 
These organs are not exposed on the outside of the body as they 
are in the larger animals, but are carried on the inside. You will 
find them just under the backbone, one on each side, and in line 
between the last two ribs. 

In order to remove these organs it is absolutely necessary to 
use some kind of instrument. The success of the operation will 
depend upon the character of the tools used. 

Very few birds are killed, or even hurt, by the operation. 
Unless you attempt to use some sort of sharp-edged clipping tes- 
ticle remover, which is very dangerous. The real discouraging 
feature heretofore has been due to the large amount of "slips" 
that would develop from each bunch operated on. 

"A slip" is no good. He is the scoundrel that has kept the 
profitable, kind-hearted capon from becoming the most popular 




A Scene on the Dingley Dell Farm, Cedar Vale, Kansas. An Open Front House, 

the Best Type for Housing - Any Kind of Chickens, Especially Capons. 

This House Has Four Rooms, Is Fifty Feet Long- and Sixteen 

Feet Deep. Note the Nest Boxes on Outside. 

Dog" and Hog Proof. 

bird that the world has ever known. The slip himself cannot be 
personally blamed for this. The fact is, he no doubt would much 
prefer to be a capon and in due time enter into his proper place in 
high society. The slip, however, has to be content with a place 
midway between the capon and the old rooster. Bringing on the 
market a few cents per pound more than his daddy, the old 
rooster, and much less than his kind-hearted brother, the capon. 
A slip is caused by an imperfect operation, due principally to a 

Page Ten 



wrongly constructed tool. In making a capon the parts to be 
removed are very soft and tender, almost like jelly, and attached 
to the bird with cords and membranes. Much the same as in other 
animals, except that the organs are inside the bird's body. The 
nature of the fowl is such that the smallest particle of these 
organs, cords or adhering membranes left in the bird will result 
in nature trying to grow a new organ. With the old-style tools it 
is almost impossible to remove them entire. In fifty to sixty per 
cent of the cases enough is usually left to cause nature to try to 
replace them, resulting in the discouraging, unprofitable slip. 
Hence the shortage in the world's supply of capons. Of course 
there are some exceptions ; certain sections of the country near 
the large critical markets, where capons command forty to fifty 
cents per pound, have stuck to the problem on account of the un- 
usual large profits that were to be made from capons. Certain 
individuals, after much practice and many expensive experiences, 
have mastered the art with the old style tools, until they were able 
to get a fairly large per cent of capons. 

These men have made a business of caponizing for the com- 
munity, charging so much per bird operated on for their services. 
Wherever one of these experts is available the capon industry has 
developed to large proportions. 

In summing up the facts it at once becomes apparent that 
capons are very profitable and much to be desired. The real 
reason they are not more generally found in this country is the 
lack of a set of instruments that the ordinary person can use suc- 
cessfully without special training. 

Within the last six months of 1911 such tools have been per- 



Recommends George Beuoy Instruments Very Highly. 

Mangum, Okla., November 14th, 1913. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — Will write you in regard to capons. I have around 
one hundred. I have good success with the tools I bought of you. 
I began on live birds and only lost six all summer's work, and I 
think I am just about right with making capons, and I don't think 
I have had half-dozen slips out of my bunch of capons. Out of 
twenty birds worked last year with a Pilling outfit I only got two 
capons. Thompson's folks, on Route No. 3, used my tools all spring, 
and when they saw how good they were they ordered a set of you. 
I have recommended them highly, and think there will be more used 
around Mangum soon. We live a mile and a half from Mangum, 
and so many come out to see "That Rooster," as they call it, caring 
for little chicks (a capon.) Please give me the address of the firm 
you ship your capons to. Yours respectfully, 

MRS. JOHN SCHRYVER, R. R. No. 4. 



Page Eleven 



fected and patented. Personally I have tried out these tools and 
know that they are all that is claimed for them. These tools were 
originally invented and patents obtained or applied for by George 
Beuoy. These tools work practically automatic, and very 
little skill is required to make a capon with them. Rightly used 
a slip is impossible. Once tried you will never be without capons 
—they are the greatest eating to be had. That is what we have 
always thought, but after we had the pleasure of reading the fol- 
lowing letter we knew it to be a fact. Surely no higher authority 
than the president of the American Poultry Association need be 
cited on this point : 



Topeka, Kan., Dec. 24, 1909. 
Dear Mr. Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Mr. Beuoy: — I cannot begin to express the thanks of 
myself and family for the magnificent capon you sent us. He ar- 
rived in the afternoon, and when I got home I found my little boys 
had him out playing with him and they thought that he was about 
big enough to make a horse. I have to leave this afternoon, and I 
just could not bear the thought of leaving without tasting some of 
that juicy bird. So last night I killed and dressed him and today 
we had him good and brown. Now I am not flattering you when I 
say that I have eaten pheasant, ducks, geese and chickens cooked 
by some of the most expert chefs in America, but I never ate any- 
thing equal to that capon. I really dread to leave home this after- 
noon, for two reasons: First, I fear the entire family have eaten 
so much capon that they will likely get down. Second, I would like 
to be here for another fine lunch off of that capon served cold. 
There were twelve of us ate a magnificent meal today. Now, this is 
counting in my family and visitors that we invited in to partake 
of the feast, and still there was some to spare. We did not quite 
get twelve baskets full of fragments, but they have plenty left for 
supper and I am going away in a short time and will. miss finishing 
the treat. You know how the women appreciate something nice for 
the table; well, my wife was certainly happy to get that fine capon, 
and she joins me in expressing our thanks. Mr. Beuoy, I do not 
know how I can ever pay you for your kindness in this matter, and 
I hope when I see you at Wichita (at the State Foultry Show) I will 
be able to make good with you in some way to show you that I 
appreciate your kindness far more than this letter begins to express. 

Wishing you a merry Xmas and a happy New Year, I am, 

Cordiallv yours, 

REESE V. HICKS. 



The above letter to Mr. Beuoy was written by Mr. Hicks, at 
that time president of The American Poultry Association and 
editor-in-chief of Poultry Culture. President Hicks voices the 
sentiments of every one that have tried capons. They are un- 
doubtedly the best eating to be had. Under present conditions 
they are not an expensive luxury, but within the reach of every- 
one. 

Page Twelve 



Capons For Hatching Early Chicks 

Can be Made to Do Good Service if You Are Willing to Help the 

First Three Days. 

Written by Matt W. Baldwin, Associate Editor, and first published in the Na- 
tional Barred Rock Journal, Union City, Mich. 

At this season of the year most of us are holding a personal 
debate with ourselves as to what we will do to get out some early 
chicks. Of course we all recognize the value of the incubator, but 
the older a fancier becomes the less he likes monkeying with 
them — somehow I'm averse to using an incubator-hatched cock- 
erel as a breeder, and my prejudice hasn't much of a foundation 
either; in other words, I prefer the hen-hatched and hen-raised 
chick as a breeder. 

I've seen some mighty good birds hatched and raised artific- 
ially; in fact, I've raised 'em myself, but I prefer hen-raised stock. 

But supposing that you can't find setters when you want 
them, then what? 

Let me tell you something which you probabty know, and 
likely have forgotten. You can set a capon any time you want 
to; that's something you can't always do with a setting hen. 
Sometimes she'll sit and sometimes she won't — -at least she won't 
set where you want her to. Leave her alone in the cow barn 
with a discarded doorknob and she'll set; but put her in a nice 
quiet woodshed with a clean nest and a nice setting of $10 eggs, 
and shell postively refuse service. But a capon will tend to 
busmess at any time when you are ready to insist on it. 

My knowledge of capons is quite intimate, for I've made 
many hundreds of them; have set them and have used them as 
foster mothers for incubator chicks; so in this instance I can 
vouch for what I say. Any capon and every capon is crazy to 
hover chicks, and they will fight for them with a greater courage 
than will a hen, and they will dig and scratch for them front 
early morning till late at night. They are enthusiastic nurses so 
long as the chicks respond to the broody clucking, but when 
the chicks get so old and independent that they scatter and for- 
age for themselves then Mr. Capon will spend his time around the 
brooders trying to coax the younger chicks out, and if you let 
them out, you will know what it means to be a proud and happy 
capon. 

The old English or French method of setting a capon is the 
one I have used. You must have a small, low nesting box pre- 
pared; then pull quit a few of the breast feathers and dab the 
bare breast with weak mustard water. The idea in this is to 
establish a slight irritation ; then put Mr. Capon on the nest. 
It will not be long before he settles down in the correct posi- 

Page Thirteen 



tion, and you can then slip the eggs under him with as little 
disturbance as possible ; in fact, it is best to give him the eggs 
after dark. The next day you take him off for feed and water 
and remove the eggs. When you think he has had sufficient time 
put him back and as soon as he settles slip back the eggs. You 
remove the eggs simply as a precaution against breakage. The 
next day when you release the capon he will most likely go back 
to his duties without your help. At the same time it pays to 




MAT BALDWIN, SIOUX CITY, IOWA. 

Bared Rock breeder and fancier. Mat says capons are good setters and Mat 
should know, because lie has tried them. 

see that he does. In fact, you have to look after him the first 
three days, much the same as you would a hen. When once down 
he ceases to be a capon and has become a broody hen; ruffles 
his feathers at your approach, and takes a hunk out of your 
hand if you get too familiar. 

You must not expect a 10-months-old capon to accept henly 
duties as readily as one that is a year or more old. Those that 



Page Fourteen 



I set the first time were probably 15 months old, for they were 
early hatched chicks of the previous year, and were not set un- 
til July, and then rather as an experiment, on its being recalled 
to my memory that the English and French set capons. 

I kept two of my capons over for the next year. Their spurs 
had to be sawed off, for they grew very long — much longer than 
a cock's — but I gave them eggs early in the spring and had no 
trouble in setting them, and they each raised a strong brood of 
their own hatching, and later took care of big broods of incu- 
bator hatched chicks. 

I am afraid to tell you about the weight of these two capons 
when shown at a winter show when 2 years and 8 months old> 
but I'd better make my strange story still more strange, and 
much easier to disbelieve — one weighed 18 pounds, the other 15 : 
together they weighed 33 pounds. 

They were Barred Plymouth Rocks, sired by a cockerel 
bought in the show room three years previously. 

The first year that I made capons I showed six that must 
have been about eight months old, for they were hatched in 
April and shown, I think, in December. The six averaged 9% 
pounds in the show room. 

It takes good eyesight to make good capons, but in '93 my 
eyes began to go back on me ; that stopped my caponizing opera- 
tions, but if I was running a "sure to goodness" poultry plant 
I would always have a few "nurse" capons on hand. Anybody 
who is running a commercial poultry plant can make very nice 
money with capons. In order to meet the roaster market they 
should be old enough and large enough to operate on about 
the end of July; in other words, about one and one-half pounds 
in weight and ten weeks old. You can make a good capon at 
same weight if operated on in August ; but the earlier bird gives 
better return and makes the most money. 

Capons are in demand from November right through until 
Easter. They should weigh seven pounds or more ; the greater 
the weight the better the price — that is, if six-pound capons 
command 20 cents per pound, a seven-pound capon will bring 
25 cents ,and an eight-pounder 30 cents. These are not actual 
figures of values, but simply express the difference weight makes 
in value. But one can see that a good caponizer can make nice 
money turning cull cockerels into capons. In raising capons for 
market it is advisable to raise them on pasture with a limited 
grain feed. Thirty days before marketing confine them in a 
fattening pen on a highly concentrated diet. 



Page Fifteen 



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CHAPTER II. 
CAPONS AS FOSTER MOTHERS. 

Did you ever see a capon with a brood of little chicks f No ! 
Well, you have certainly missed something worth an effort to 
see, even though you never expect to raise a chicken as long 
as you live. It certainly is an interesting sight to see a capon 
performing the mother's duties. When it comes to taking real 
good, attentive, loving care of a brood of newly hatched chicks 
the capon has the old hen beaten at every turn. In the first 
place, his plumage is much more abundant, the feathers are 
longer and softer and his spread of wing is much greater than 
Madam Hen; in fact, his accommodations are much more ample 
in every respect. The capon has a commanding cluck, cluck, 
that the little chicks seem to understand perfectly, and when 




The Proof — A Capon and Chicks. 

Real photograph, without retouching in any way. Capons are the best 
means of raising little chicks that we have ever tried. On our large 
farm we have raised from 500 to 600 chicks each year for the last five 
years. These were hatched in incubators and given to capons to raise. They 
were taken right from the machine and given to the capons. The capons have 
raised to maturity over 85 per cent of all the chicks given to them, a feat 
that would hardly be possible with any style of brooder. A capon will cluck 
and hover the little chicks exactly the same as a hen. It requires very little 
training to have them do this. 



the occasion demands he has the capacity to raise his voice so 
that the youngsters that have strayed some distance away may 
hear him and regain the brood in time to avoid danger. Best 
of all, the hawk does not fly that can take a chick from a good 



Page Seventeen 



Barred Plymouth Rock capon. On various occasions I have 
seen a capon with a brood of chicks take a running shot at a 
hawk, the big yellow kind, that was in the act of seizing a chick, 
and knock the hawk as much as ten feet, rolling on the ground. 
As the hawk regained his wings he lost no time in getting away, 
and no further trouble was experienced from that particular 
bird. He will cluck and hover a motherless brood of chicks will- 
ingly and much better than the best of hens. All hens are not 
alike, some are better than others with chicks. Capons are the 
same in that respect, some are better than others. 

Rightly handled, we have never seen a capon that would 
refuse to mother a brood of newly-hatched chicks. In connec- 
tion with the incubator, they have proved to be the best meth- 
od of brooding the little chicks that we have ever tried. Al- 
ways ready to take the little fluffy balls of down and care for 



Capons Keep the Little Turkeys Dry and Safe. 

Bristol, Vermont, R. R. No. 3, Nov. 18th, 1913. 
Mr. Geo. Geuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — I bought of you last year a No. 10 set of capon tools 
and my husband and I operated on some chickens and have some 
nice capons as result. 

We hatched our TURKEY EGGS under hens and gave the 
poults to capons to raise. They took fine care of them. We did not 
have to worry at all when there was a hard rain. The capons kept 
our turkeys dry and safe. 

We used the capons to mother our young chicks and rented out 
some capons for the same purpose. 

Yours respectfully, 

MRS. MAHLON PURINTON. 



them until they are matured birds, if not weaned from them 
sooner. Where it is advisable to change the father capon from 
a bunch of larger to smaller chicks, it is of course necessary 
to wean him from the larger ones. To accomplish this it is best 
to shut the capon up in a rather dark place for three or four 
days, entirely away from the old brood. The younger chicks may 
then be placed under him some night and left the following 
day with him, after which he will usually take up with them 
and no further trouble be experienced. It is no trouble to start 
a capon with little chicks in the first place. They just naturally 
take to young chicks the same as a duck takes to water. It is 
important that the capon be quite gentle or he will be more 
difficult to handle. For the best results have a small yard with 
a coop in it. Place the capon in this yard a few days before you 
intend to give him the chicks. It will give him time to get lo- 
cated and at home in his new quarters. If the capon has never 

Page Eighteen 



raised chicks before it is best that the chicks be about one week 
old to start him with. As the brood coop has no perches in it, 
the capon will go to roost squatting on the floor. Just about 
dark take the little chicks out and place them under his wings, 
one or two at a time, until they are all under. The capon will 
not object to this, but will rather like it. Should he for any 
reason seem to be restless, tickle him under the chin and talk 
to him a little in a soothing voice, and all will soon be well. You 
will have to be up good and early the next morning to see how 
things progress. 

Usually the next morning the capon will be talking, scold- 
ing and hovering the little fellows the same as the hen. Some- 
times one will seem to be in doubt, will hold up one foot in his 
feathers, standing on one leg, and not say much. Where they 
perform in this manner, take the chicks entirely away from 
them and try it again the second night, in the meantime keep- 
ing the capon confined to the coop and as dark as possible. By 
the second morning the most obstinate of them will be clucking 
and ready to fight for the brood. After they have once learned 
how to do it right, young newly hatched chicks may be given 
to them with perfect safety. In warm weather one capon will 
care for thirty chicks, but we have found it much better to have 
only twenty chicks to the capon. At the big Topeka poultry 
show in January, 1911, George Beuoy of the Dingley Dell Farm, 
Cedar Yale, Kan., had on exhibition two capons with twenty 
newly hatched chicks to each capon. The chicks were about 
one week old, were hatched in an incubator and shipped from 
Cedar Yale to Topeka the two coldest days of that year, the 
thermometer registering 12 degrees below zero. The chicks, 
going astray, were on the road two nights and one day, with- 
out feed or water. The little chicks were right in a box 14x36 
inches, with the capons, and came through without the loss of 
a single chick. Truly a remarkable performance. Something 
that would have been impossible with the best of mother hens, 
but only a fair example of what may be expected of a capon 
with little chicks. Hundreds of people saw these birds, as they 
were the center of attraction at that great show. Mr. Beuoy 
is a breeder of Barred Plymouth Rocks with a national reputa- 
tion. Birds bred and raised by him having won more prizes at 
the really large and up-to-date shows than any other breeder 
of that variety in the Central West. Many of his prize win- 
ners were raised by capons, that being the only system on his 
large poultry farm, having discarded the brooders entirely in 
favor of the capons. In communities where capons are well 
known they are used almost exclusively for raising little chicks. 
Tt makes no difference if the chicks are hatched under hens 
instead of incubators, it pays to take them from the hen and 
let the capon care for them. Put the hen back on the laying 
job and let her fill the egg basket while daddy capon scratches 

Page Nineteen 



Capons as Foster Mothers. 



Harper, Kansas, May 21, 1912. 

George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas: Please send me a copy of 
"What's a Capon and Why?" I have had a few Capons and wish to 
raise more of them. I think they are fine for brooders. I have one 
that runs with 112 little chicks in the daytime, but he only cares 
for twenty at night. The rest are kept in the brooder. Please send 
the book at once. Yours truly, 

Box 141. MRS. FRANK PALMER. 



for the young' chicks. It seems hard for some to believe that 
capons will actually do all this, and this point is well illustrated 
in the following true incident : 

A certain bank cashier in our town became very much in- 
trested in capons as a pastime. He secured a few cockerels and 
operated on them, taking a great deal of interest in the work as 
a diversion from his more strenuous occupation, and incidental- 
ly, enjoying a fine capon feast with friends now and then. On 
one such occasion early last spring, soon after he had started 
his first capon with little chicks, his little grandson, just learn- 
ing to talk real plain, was amongst the favored ones. The cash- 
ier, bubbling over with enthusiasm and delight with his success 
as producer and trainer of expert mother nurses, called the 
guests out to see for themselves. The sight was new and impres- 
sive, as the banker scattered bits of corn bread before the capon 
and his brood of baby chicks. Everybody was very quiet, con- 
templating the scene. About the only sound to be heard was 
the encouraging cluck, cluck, of the old bird as he insisted that 
the little fellows partake of the feast as he broke apart the most 
choice morsels for them. All at once, in a very solemn voice, 
the grandson inquired: "Say, Grandpa, is that a dady hen?" 



A Lady Worked 120 First Time— Only Lost One. 

Mont Ida, Kansas. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — Please send me a list of capon buyers. I had splen- 
did success with the Capon Tools (No. 10 set, bought of you). I 
have worked one hundred and twenty (120) birds and only lost one, 
and it was not right; had its back hurt. I worked Mrs. Atwater's 
chickens for her and she thought the tools could not be beat, and 
she sent for a set at once. I got ten cents apiece for working the 
birds and have the promise of one hundred more to work. We have 
eaten several capons and they are certainly GRAND. We will 
always have some capons on this farm. Wishing you the best of 
success, I remain, yours very truly, 

MRS. BELLE WATTS, R. R. No. 1. 



Page Twenty 



CHAPTER III. 
THE REASON OF HIGH PRICES FOR CAPONS. 




IF A CHILD CAN DO IT SO CAN YOU. 

LITTLE HELEN BEUOY, CEDAR VALE, KANSAS, MAKING A CAPON. 

At the time this picture was taken Helen was only ten years old. This little 

girl makes spending money by working birds for the neighbors. She 

gets ten cents for each capon she makes. It is easy for her 

to operate on fifty in one afternoon. 

Capons bring high prices ; there will always be a demand 
for them far in excess of the supply. Some makers of capon 
instruments have enlarged on the prices obtainable for capons 

Page Twenty-one 



and overstated the facts. No doubt but that 40 to 50 cents per 
pound can be obtained in certain aristocratic sections for dressed 
capon in fancy style. However, that is not what interests the 
average producer. It is the price readily obtainable on the open 
market that should govern them. Careful observations cover- 
ing the last five years and based on Central Western conditions 
show that the average price in season for capons to be right 
around 20 cents per pound. In some instances as low as 15 
cents per pound, live weight. Farther East, where capons are 
better known, the price was much better. 

It is not a question of how much you can get for the capon ; 
the point is, you cannot afford to be without capons, even 
though you never intend to sell one. One capon will more than 
pay for a set of tools that will last forever. As a source of food 
supply they cannot be ignored. With a good set of instruments 




Fourteen-Pound Barred Rock Capon,. Sweepstakes Winner at Kansas City 
Wichita and Independence. 1913-14. 

in your possession you at once have unlimited access to the 
greatest table delicacy obtainable in ancient or modern times, 
a so-called luxury that was out of the reach of the poor man and 
not always obtainable by the rich. Modern down-to-date in- 
vention, together with a little "gumption" on the part of the 
consumer, has placed this dish within the reach of all. As a 
source of profit no other part of the poultry business offers so 
great a return as capons. It is safe to figure that they will al- 
ways bring twice as much per pound as the average price of 
hens. They Avill average about twice as heavy, just as the fin- 
ished steer will outweigh and outsell the cow. 

As a means of recreation "caponizing" presents a subject 
full of interest and running over with possibilities. Bankers, 
teachers, clerks and business men in all lines of work get great 

Page Twenty-two 



enjoyment from a few capons. The operation is very interest- 
ing, requiring a certain amount of skill. But it is soon learned 
and easily performed. 

Children especially take great interest in the operation 
and in watching the birds develop, boys or girls of over 10 
years being very quick to get the hang of the operation and 
soon become expert at it. Note the picture of Helen Beuoy. 
Helen learned the operation herself, practicing first on a dead 
bird, one that had just been killed to eat. The season just 
passed Helen worked on many birds, and quit the season with- 
out the loss of a single one. The picture is from an actual photo 
without retouching in any way. Taken by Oeie Sartin while 
Helen was operating on a live bird. At the time the picture was 
taken Helen was only 10 years old. You will note that she is 
using the Geo. Beuoy No. 10 set of instruments; these are the 
kind of tools that make real capons. 

There are several good reasons why capons bring such high 



r 




Twelve Pound White Rock Capon. 

prices, the principal one being that capons hit the market at a 
time when all other poultry is very scarce and hard to get at 
any price. A capon gets his growth usually during February 
or March and is ready for the market at that time. This is too 
early in the season for young chicks or broilers and those who 
have wintered a bunch of hens do not care to sell at this time 
on account that the hens are laying their best and eggs are at 
the top price at this season. There are no grass cattle on the 
market, which means that beef, pork and all kinds of meat, in 
fact, is not only very scarce and high but in many instances 
cannot be had at all. The capon is at his Jaest at this time and 
comes in at exactly the proper time to fill a long felt want and 
to supply the market with the best possible quality of meat. 

At least half the chickens hatched each year are male birds, 
early hatched birds are of course the most profitable, as this is 
a well known fact the result is that the bulk of the chicken crop 

Page Twenty-three 



IF" A CHILD CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU 



Carl Fritz Beuoy, age 7 years, making a capon. Carl is quite an expert; 
worked fifty birds this season, twenty of them for Wm. McNeely well known 
stockman of Cedar Vale, Kan., doing the work all himself. The capons were 
later sold to the Seymour Packing Co. of Windfield, Kan., and pronounced first 
class. Carl uses the No. 10 George Beuoy set, as you can see in the pitcure. 



is hatched during March, April and May. This means that the 
young males or at least half of all the chickens raised will be 
ready for market at or about the same time. 

Under old methods this half of the poultry crop of this coun- 
try would reach the market as frying chickens or broilers and 
all in a bunch, or nearly so. Under the best conditions they would 
all come onto the market within ninety days and during the hot- 
test time of the season. This means that the market would be- 
come glutted and no demand. The price would have to sink to 
its lowest ebb and the birds sold for less than it cost to raise them. 

Modern conditions demand modern methods, and it is only 
by caponizing the young males that this valuable source of whole- 
some food can be conserved and distributed over the entire year 
instead of being rushed to the market in a bunch. 

Five or six years ago we began to caponize all of our surplus 
male birds and since then the capons have been the most profit- 
able part of our poultry business. As a matter of fact up to that 
time we had lost money on the male half of our flock, now they 
make us more profit than the hens or pullets. We sell them right 
on the market and what we have done and are still doing, any 
farmer or poultry raiser can do equally as well. 

It will be but a very short time until capons will be found on 
every farm in the country, the signs of the times point that way 
and the issue cannot be dodged. Capons are bound to come. 
Conditions demand that the male birds be caponized in order to 
protect the egg crop, if for no other reason. We are told and 
most of us know it to be a fact that unfertilized eggs can be kept 
in a perfectly fresh condition for many months. It is also an 
established fact that unfertilized eggs will sell for double the 
price of eggs that are fertilized. The problem with the farmer 
who produces the bulk of the egg crop has been to find a practical 
way of disposing of the males. Forced on the market during the 
hot months they were sure to produce a loss. Under the old 
method, it was almost impossible for the average farmer to make 
capons with any degree of success. Necessity, as usual, is the 
mother of invention and these new conditions demanded a modern 
way of making capons, one that would be safe, sure and effective. 
These conditions have all been met in the Geo. Beuoy Capon Tools 
invented and patented by George Beuoy, a farmer of Cedar Yale, 
Kan., some six years ago. I have been using a set of these tools 
ever since they were first invented, caponizing several hundred 
birds each year with the very best success. I have a little boy 
only seven years old that can do the work just as well and almost 
as fast as myself. There is scarcely any danger from the opera- 
tion if the proper instruments are used. Best results can be 
secured if the birds are worked on when quite small. In the 
American breeds when they are about like quails in size and ap- 
pearance is the best time. In the small breeds like Leghorns, they 
will have to be worked even smaller than that on account of the 

Page Tweoty-fiveo 



fact that birds of small breeds develop much faster sexually than 
the larger breeds. The idea is to get them just before the comb 
and wattles begin to grow or redden up. 

It is much easier and faster to do this work on poultry 
than it is to perform a similar operation on any other kind of 
stock or animal. The danger to the fowl is not so great and the 
bird will recover from the operation much quicker than a pig or 
calf. With a little practice any one can soon learn to make thirty 
or forty capons in an hour. As a starter it is best to practice on 
a dead bird. Commence on one that you have just killed to eat, 
work on one or two in that way and you will become accustomed 



Capons Made with "Geo. Beuoy Tools" Make Good 

Guy E. McGlaskey, White Wyandotte Breeder, 

Girard, Kan., May 30th, 1913. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — Your letter of instructions and No. 10 set of tools 
with illustrated instructions received. I tried the tools this morn- 
ing on six White Wyandottes. I only had the six that were the 
right size, so I began on a live bird, and operated on them all with- 
out killing one. They commenced to eat as soon as I let them down. 
Yours truly, GUY E. McGLASKEY. 

P. S. — I am crippled with rheumatism and haven't walked for 
six years. Have to sit in a wheeled chair, but I laid a board across 
the arms of my chair and used that for an operating table instead 
of a barrel.— G. E. Mc. 



The Capons Made Money 

Garard, March 4th, 1914. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Mr. Beuoy: — Well I have sold the capons and we are well 
pleased with the results. See detailed statement below. The poul- 
try dealer at this place shipped them to Chicago for us. We had 
him dress them for us and as they did not have to draw them they 
did not shrink very much. The people around here could hardly 
believe that capons bring such high prices and they think it is a 
joke that they will care for little chicks. I am keeping three of 
mine to raise little chicks and will surprise them again. 
Statement — Capons shipped Feb. 19, 1914. 

Eleven White Wyandottes and 12 B. Ply Rocks, twenty-three 
in all. 

Weight alive 202 lbs. 

Eleven W. Wyandottes weighed dressed, 75 lbs. 

Twelve Barred Ply. Rocks weighed dressed, 115 lbs. 

Shrinkage in dressing 23 capons only 12 lbs. 

Shrinkage in shipping same only one pound. 

Price per pound, 25 cents. 

Cost of picking and packing, $1.25. 

Express to Chicago, $3.90. 

Commission of 5 per cent, $2.50. 

Total Expense, $7.65. 

Total price, $47.25. 

Net price $39.60, almost a net price of 21 cents per pound for 
them. Yours truly, GUY E. McGLASKEY. 



Page Twenty-six 



to the instruments and will get the parts to be removed fixed in 
your mind. You will then be anxious to try on a live bird and 
can proceed with confidence and success. It pays to take plenty 
of time on the start and go slow on the first few. In case one 
should be killed it would just bleed to death and would die much 
quicker than if its head were cut off in the usual way and of 
course would be just as good to eat. 

Capons are profit makers and they bring in the cash at a 




Helen and Carl Fritz Beuoy work together since Carl has grown large 
enough to be real help. The picture of Helen, on page 21, was taken four years 
ago when Helen was much smaller. Helen is a real expert having made capons 
for five seasons and has never killed a bird while operating, and she works many 
birds each season. Helen prefers the No. 10 set shown on page 66, the written 
guarantee of which is on page 69. 



time of the year when we need it most. Usually February and 
March are dull months on the farm. Have a flock of capons and 
cash in at this time. It helps. 

I remember my first bunch of capons and the nice profit 

Page Twenty-seven 



they made me. It was some five or six years ago. Along in July 
Ave found that we had a few over a hundred young cockerels that 
we must dispose of. Inquiries as to market price developed the 
fact that we could not get over twenty cents apiece for them or a 
total of twenty dollars for the hundred birds. I had not at that 
time had any experience with capons. In fact had never seen 
the operation but I secured a set of the best instruments I could 
find and started in on them. At first it was a bit awkward but 
a little practice and I was all right. We fatted out that bunch of 
capons, sold them on the market in the latter part of February, 
shipping them to Kansas City and selling live weight on the mar- 




The son of a prominent official of the Missouri State Experiment Station, 
Mountain Grove, Mo., and two Barred Rock Capons, Pete and Repeat. Big" 
enough to use for horses. 



ket. As I remember it we received twenty-one cents per pound 
for them and they weighed a trifle over ten each on the average, 
which made the hundred capons bring something over two hun- 
dred dollars. A gross profit of one hundred and eighty dollars 
more than they would have brought, sold as cockerels. A net 
profit of at least one dollar each. 

Usually capons will bring about double the average price of 
hens per pound. It costs about the same to raise a capon as a 
hen. The capon will weigh at least twice as much and as he sells 

Page Twenty-eight 



higher per pound a good capon will bring about the same amount 
of money as four hens of the same breed. 

Aside from the capon's value as a strictly money making 
farm issue, he has other qualities that should commend him to 
your attention. Capons make fine mothers for little newly 
hatched chicks. In connection with an incubator they are the 
best means of raising little chicks that we have ever tried. You 
understand of course that "capons do not lay eggs," and it is 
no use to write for ' ' capon eggs. ' ' But they do love to look after 
a bunch of little chicks. They will hover them and cluck to them 
exactly like a mother hen and in most cases are better with the 
little fellows than the best of hens. It is no trouble to teach them 
to do this, they just naturally take to little chicks like a small boy 
to a mud hole. A few years ago capons w r ere scarcely known in 
this section, now they are becoming quite common. Following my 
success with capons on the market I was requested to give a lec- 
ture and demonstration at our Agricultural College at Manhattan 
in connection with the annual field meeting of the Kansas State 
Poultry Federation. This feature was so much of a success and 
so much interest and enthusiasm w^as shown that I was engaged 
by the Missouri State Poultry Board last summer to attend a 
series of field meetings in that state and lecture and demonstrate 
the art of caponizing. I w T as in Missouri some two weeks and gave 
lectures at nine towns in the principal poultry sections, including 
one day at their Poultry Experiment Farm at Mountain Grove. 
The trip was under the management and guidance of T. E. (^)uin- 
senberry, director of the Missouri State Poultry Board, and every- 
where we met with the greatest interest by crowds which varied 
from two or five thousand people. I have also within the last 
few months given lectures and demonstrations in many Kansas 
towns and a few in Oklahoma, in many instances at the expense 
and request of the Farmers Institutes and I can say to you that 
the farmer who does not caponize his male birds the coming sea- 
son is entirely behind the times and will lose a nice profit to 
which he is fully entitled and should have. That the farmers in 
Missouri are awake to the possibilities of capons, is proven I think, 
by the fact that they have insisted that demonstrations and lec- 
tures on capons be included at all field meetings in that state 
this season. 

I do a lot of lecture and demonstration work on this subject, 
not because I want to, but because I can not get out of it and 
do my duty to the industry. Honestly, I don't believe it helps 
the beginner to have some one show him or her how to do it. 
I believe you can learn better and quicker by commencing on 
a dead bird, as stated above, and learning by yourself. Too 
much advice is bad dope — just get out by yourself without any- 
one to bother and you will be surprised how easy and simple it 
really is. 

Page Twenty-nine 



AMERICAN SCHOOL OF POULTRY HUSBANDRY 

Efficient Instruction In All Branches of The Poultry Business 
By The Correspondence Method 

Mountain Grove, Box G. B., Missouri, Jan. 23, 1915 



Mr. George Beuoy, The Capon King, 
Cedarvale, Kan. 

Dear Mr . Beuoy : 

I write to let you know that great interest 
is being manifested on the part of our students 
in the lesson on Capons and Caponizing. We are 
teaching hundreds of them by mail just how to perform 
a successful operation, and many of them write 
that they are able to make good profits from this 
branch of the industry. 

I know a large number of farmers in this 
state who are caponizing 20^ and 300 cockerels 
and then holding them over to the season for mar- 
keting capons and receiving all the way from $1.50 
to $2.25 each for them. 

We have students from all parts of the 
United States, Canada, and several other countries. 
They all seem to think that the chapter in the 
lesson on Capons and Caponizing written by you is of 
great value to them, and they also seem to like 
your instruments better than most any others 
they have ever used. 

Wishing you success, I remain 

Yours very truly, 

T. E. QUISENBERRY, 
President American School of Poultry Husbandry. 



Page Thirty 



"George Beuoy caponizes more birds and teaches more 
people how to properly perform the operation, each year, 
than any other LIVING POULTRYMAN, and he is called 
CAPON KING for that reason. " T. E. QUISENBERRY. 




T. E. QUISENBERRY. 

AMERICA'S FOREMOST POULTRYMAN. President 
American School of Poultry Husbandry, Mountain Grove, 
Mo. Director Missouri State Experiment Station, Superin- 
tendent World's Fair Poultry Department, San Francisco. 

Mr. Quisenberry has worked out a wonderfully helpful 
and practical correspondence course in Poultry Husbandry. 
Any poultry raiser would do well to study this course. In 
writing to him about this, direct your letters to T. E. Quisen- 
berry, Box G. B., Mountain Grove, Mo., and it will get his 
prompt attention. 



Page Thirty-one 



CHAPTER IV. 

PREPARING TO CAPONIZE. 

The first thing necessary, of course, is a bird of the right 
degree of development and in the proper condition. The right 
stage of development is as important as the condition; either of 




r_- ':■■!- 






(Courtesy American School of Poultry Husbandry.) 

Four cockerels the day they were Caponized at the American School of Poul- 
try Husbandry, Mountain Grove, Mo. Six weeks old, weight one pound and a 
half each. Just right to Caponize. 

these two points not right will cause a large per cent of fail- 
ures. Many people ask how old should the birds be, or how 
much should they weigh, when they are right to caponize. How 
old they should be or how large they are is "wide of the mark;" 
what they really should know is the proper state of develop- 
ment. This stage of the bird's growth is hard to explain so 
that all will understand alike. Different breeds, and different 
flocks of the same breed, vary as to the time and manner of 
their development. No set rules can be given that would be 
just right in every instance. The proper time to caponize is 
just before the bird reaches sexual maturity. Generally speak- 
ing, when the birds reach one and a half to two pounds in 
weight. Leghorns and all small breeds should be worked on 
smaller even than that, as they develop the generative organs 
much sooner than the larger breeds. All fowls of early spring 
hatches develop sexually much sooner than those of summer 



Page Thirty-two 



or fall hatches. For that reason the early hatched ones can not 
be let run so long as the later hatched birds. It always sounds 
bad to try to explain the proper time to caponize on paper, 
yet a very little practice will show you when they are just right. 
Once you get the right idea, it will be easy to tell the ones that 
are "just right" by the look of the fowl. The main thing is 
to start — "get at it" — the rest will come to you all right. A lit- 
tle practice and you are an expert. You will find the ones that 
are just right in a variety of different sizes and ages. The es- 
sential requirement is to have the testicle and its attachments 
in just the right state of development. 

These organs should be just about the size of a common 
navy bean; in no case larger. Slightly smaller preferred. Aft- 
er you are in practice the work may be done where the testi- 
cles are no larger than plump grains of wheat. They should 
be about the same shape and color as a nice bright plump grain 
of soft winter wheat. The expert will get the best possible re- 
sults where the organs are in this stage of development. The 
organs should be a little larger for the beginner, as they can be 
seen to better advantage. With old fashioned clumsy tools it 
was, of course, impossible to do the work where the organs 
were so small. There was not room enough inside the bird to 
use the old tools. With the modern automatic tools it is pos- 
sible and much better to operate on small birds. The picture 




(Courtesy American School of Poultry Husbandry.) 
The same four birds after they were Caponized and reached the age of seven 
months. Wtorth 25 cents each in first picture and would sell on the market for 
$2.00 each at time of last picture. Which shall it be, 20-cent rooster, or $2.00 
Capon? 



Page Thirty-three 



shows a Barred Rock cockerel in just the right stage of develop- 
ment. 

By not having the birds just right has caused many fail- 
ures. I should say that there was about three weeks in the life 
of each male bird when he is just right to caponize. Before 




The Photo Shows Mrs. George Beuoy and One of Her Barred Rock Cockerels 

'Just Right to Caponize." 

that period he is too small and afterwards he is too much de- 
veloped. Of course, it is understood that the operation can be, 
and is performed, on birds of all sizes and ages with success, 
insofar as the operation is concerned. A fowl that is fully de- 
veloped, sexually, at the time he is caponized never becomes 
a capon. He is simply a stag, the same as where a bull or boar 
is operated on. He will only sell as "a stag," with the excep- 
tion that a bird of this kind is called a "slip." In reality, a 

Page Thirty-four 



stag or proud male. After a cockerel begins to crow and his 
head and comb reddens up he is too far advanced to ever make 
a capon. They must be worked on before they get that far 
along if good results are to be expected. 

Next to having the birds in the right stage of development, 
comes the condition. It is possible for the expert to operate 
on them in most any kind of condition. Yet it is very poor 
judgment for him to attempt it unless they are right. The birds 
should be growing and in thriving state of health. As the 
organs to be removed are inside the bird, it will be easy to 



.JAMES R. PEDEN & CO. 

Wholesale Commission Merchants 

Kansas City, Mo., 1/11/1914. 

Mr. Geo. Beuoy, 
Cedar Vale, Kans. 

Dear Sir: 

Your valued favor duly received, should 
have answered sooner, but have just cleaned up our 
business for 1911 — I was glad to hear that your 
capons were large ones, get them good and fat and 
I will get you a fancy price. Thin stock will 
not bring the price. Live birds will bring about 
16^, Dressed about 18^ to 20^, some depends 
on market, but I will watch that and wire you 
when it is good. Trusting to hear from you soon. 

Yours very truly, 

JAS. R. PEDEN. 



understand that if the bird is full of feed, his inside fixings 
will be puffed up and expanded. Taking up all the room and 
shutting out the light so that the organ to be removed can not 
be found or removel for lack of room. For this reason, it is 
very important that the birds to be caponized be confined to 
a small yard or coop and not allowed anything to eat for at 
least thirty-six hours just before the operation is to be per- 
formed. It takes nature about that long to exhaust the food 
supply that the bird usually has on hand. 

Be sure they do not have anything to eat or drink. For the 



Make a few capons this season, even if you don't intend 
to sell one, make a few for your own use, it will pay big just 
for that alone. 



Page Thirty-five 



Sawyer, Kans., April 4, 1914. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — I bought my first set of capon tools of George Beuoy, 
Cedar Vale, Kan., in April, 1912. They were a No. 10 set of instru- 
ments and I like them fine. The first year I had about 50 capons 
which I sold to Richard Butler Produce Co., Kansas City, Mo., in 
February, 1913. They averaged 6^ 1 DS - dressed, and I received 20 
cents per lb. for them ($1.25 each.) In the summer of 1913 I oper- 
ated on about 150 birds and sold 90 of them Feb. 26th, 1914, to Rich- 
ard Butler Produce Co. The capons averaged 7 lbs. and I received 
18 cents per lb., live weight. 

My capons made a profit for me, but do not know the estimate 
as we just let them run with the rest of the chickens until about 
3 weeks before shipping. 

I think that to dispose of the cockerels as capons is the most 
profitable way as I can seldom get over 30 or 35 cents for a young 
rooster even when grown. 

I remain yours truly, 

HAL H. DARNALL. 



beginner a good light is necessary, right out in the sun will be 
best. You can then see the inner works of the birds to per- 
fection. The testicles occupy about the same position in a bird 
that the kidneys do in a hog or rabbit. No danger of getting 
the wrong organs, as the testicles are the only yellow colored 
objects you will see in the bird. If the bird is in good health 
the testicles will be yellow and shaped like a grain of wheat, 
or slightly longer, the other parts of the bird are red or nearly 
so. The testicles are always yellow or whitish yellow except 
in a diseased bird, when they sometimes become black, or part- 
ly so. 



Shipped Capons to Richard Butler Produce Co., Kansas City 

Cleo, Okla., May, 1913. 

Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — I enclose P. O. money order for another No. 10 set 
of Capon Tools. This set is for a neighbor, and very prominent 
poultry people in this section. 

I shipped my capons to the Richard Butler Produce Co., as you 
advised, and got 18 cents per pound, which was a good price, as not 
quite half of them were good capons. It surely made the people 
sit up and take notice. My capons are the latest sensation. Have 
sold several small ones to be used as mothers for little chicks. 
I remain, 

MRS. W. M. WYMAN, R. R. No. 1. 

Page Thirty-six 



CHAPTER V. 
THE PROPER TOOLS. 

After you have the birds just right, comes the tools. Sue- 
cess will depend on their construction and working principles 
as much as on the bird and its condition. With the proper 
tools and the birds right ,anyone can make a capon. Tools 
that work with a hair fine wire or that are constructed on the 
split-scoop principle and the ones that have clipping attach- 
ments are no good. A large per cent of loss by death and slips 
may be expected where they are used. The reason for this loss 
is clear when it is understood that tools of the above charac- 
ter must come in actual contact with the testicle itself before 
the tool can be manipulated in an effective manner. This being 
the case, it of course follows that the testicle attachments must 
be severed right up against that organ. In many instances a 
small part of the testicle is left in the bird, resulting in a "slip" 
every time. Where that style of tools is used the cord mem- 
branes and attachments are all left in the bird. And these are 
very apt to produce a "slip." 

A real successful testicle remover must be so constructed 
that it will open up wide enough to pass entirely over the tes- 
ticle and grasp the cords and membranes that hold it in place. 
The tool must then retain that grasp without letting the slight- 
est particle escape. As the testicle lies very close to the sper- 
matic artery and sometimes attached to it, any one will under- 
stand that any clipping contrivance with a sharp cutting edge 
is apt to sever this artery, resulting in the death of the bird. 
The successful remover must be beveled outward like a dove's 
tail and fit at the connecting" edges like a split hair. A patent- 
ed feature found only in the George Beuoy instruments. This 
will permit the grasping members being worked down between 
the spermatic artery and testicle without danger of injuring 
either. 

The instrument then has a grasp on the connecting cords 
and membranes with the testicle inside its loops. So the cords 
and attachments may be gradually stretched out away from the 
artery and the bird's back, and cut off with a thin, sharp, nar- 
row-bladed knife. Handled in this way there is no danger of 
killing the bird. It does not seem to hurt them in the least 
at this time, and as the tool is turned over several times before 
cutting, the cords are twisted together like a string, thus stop- 
ping the blood and the bird will not bleed at all, if properly 
done. 

The cords, membranes and attachments are all taken out 

Page Thirty-seven 



as well as the testicles, so there can not be any slips develop, 
because the operation is a clean one. 

These desirable features are found in but two removers, 
one of which is called the George Beuoy Latest- Remover, the 
other is known as George Beuoy New Model Testicle Remover. 

Next in importance to the testicle remover comes the spread- 
er, used for holding the ribs apart while the operation is per- 
formed. Almost any kind of spreader can be used with fair 
success. The most common kind in use heretofore is the ordi- 
nary coil spring spreader. It is made of spring wire and sells 



Good Work Appreciated 



Missouri State Poultry Experiment Station 

T. E. QUISENBERRY, Director 

Mountain Grove, Mo., Sept. 27th, 1913. 

Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas 

Dear Mr. Beuoy: -I have sent your check to 
Mr. Morton, the president, to be signed, and will 
send it to you as soon as it is returned, in 
just a day or two. 

We certainly appreciated the good work 
which you did for us on our field meetings. We 
are receiving compliments from every town we vis- 
ited. I want you to book us right now for at 
least two weeks' work next season. I may also 
want to use you at a few places this winter if 
you can spare the time to get away. Let us hear 
from you occasionally. 

With best wishes, I remain your friend, 

T. E. QUISENBERRY, Director. 



for 25 to 50 cents, or can be made from an old piece of bed- 
spring. The trouble with this kind of spreader is that no two 
birds will present the same amount of resistance. The spring 
may be strong enough to break the ribs of one bird and not 
strong enough to open the next one. There is no way to regu- 
late it. It is hard to insert into the bird and will not stay in 
place without someone to hold it. At the same time it can be 
used successfully, and has been for many years. Principally 
on account of its cheapness and the lack of anything better, 

Page Thirty-eight 



I 



The George Beuoy "Humane Spreader," which Mr. Beuoy of 
Cedar Yale, Kansas, patented, is far and way ahead of any- 
thing else we have ever seen in the way of a spreader. 

The "Humane Spreader" is constructed to fit the bird's 
body. It is used from the same side that the operator works 
on. The coil spring hinge fits up in the bird's thigh, the han- 
dles resting on the operating table, thus holding it firmly in 
position. The spreader closes automatically, making it easy to 
insert between the ribs. To spread the cut, press the handles 
together with the thumb and fore-finger, the slide drops back by 
gravity as the two handles come together, holding the tool spread 
at any desired width ; only pressure enough is used to open the 
ribs just right; no unnecessary pain is caused the bird. A coil 
spring spreader keeps a steady pressure on the bird all the time, 
resulting in much pain. 

We like this spreader much the best of any we have ever 
used. It is very convenient, affords plenty of room to work, 
and has no complicated parts to get out of order. We have 
tried other spreaders, and most of them work all right, but 
we believe the George Beuoy "Humane Spreader" presents 
many advantages not found in any other spreader. The spread- 
er is the tool that gives you the view of the work to be per- 
formed; it is desirable that a good one be used; none of them 
are expensive ; we suggest that you use the best. 

Aside from the testicle remover and spreader, the rest of 
the equipment is not so important. It will be necessary to have 
some kind of a knife. It should have a small blade that will 
hold a thin, sharp edge. You will have to have a tearing hook, 
and probe. We like them combined — probe on one end and 
hook on the other. The hook is for tearing the thin membrane, 
or tissue that covers the intestines and obstructs the view when 
the bird is first opened up with the spreaders. The tissue is 
too thin to be cut and must be torn, it is about like wet tissue 
paper. The probe is not used much, but once in awhile it will 
come in handy to press the intestines back with, in case they 
are a little too full and obstruct the view. 

Some sort of operating table and means of fastening the 
birds will also be required. An empty barrel turned bottom 
side up makes a good table and is the right height. A brick 
broken in two and each half tied to a cord about three feet 
long, with a hook attached to the free end, makes a good way 
to fasten the bird. The hooks are to pass over the string, when 
it is wound around the bird's legs or wings and saves tying a 
knot each time. 



Page Thirty-nine 



CHAPTER Vi. 

THE OPERATION. 

Turn an empty barrel bottom side up to use for an operat- 
ing table. It is the right height and can't be beat for the pur- 
pose. Secure two pieces of cord about three feet long with 
a hook in one end of each. Tie a half brick to the other end 




Position on Barrel, Properly Fastened for the Operation. 

of each cord and you are ready to proceed. Place the cock- 
erel on the top of the barrel right side up. Wrap one of the 
cords twice around his legs and fasten with the hook. Wrap 
the other cord around his wings at second joint and fasten 
same as other one ; stretch him out on top of the barrel as far 
as possible ; let the weights hang down on each side of the bar- 
rel as shown in the cut. 

Now pluck a few feathers from just in front of the hip 

Page Forty 



joint. (These are just ready to moult anyway, and will come 
out easily). Stand on the front side of the bird so that the 
breast is toward you. Locate the last two ribs with the fore- 
finger of the right hand, place the small blade of a sharp knife 
between them. (See cut). Hold it there with a firm, steady 




Making- the Cut Press Down Hard. Be Sure the Knife Point Goes Through 
Between the Ribs. Dotted line in etching shows where to cut. 

pressure; draw it forward, pressing down hard all the time. 
Be sure the blade passes through, entirely separating the ribs 
when it first starts to move at that point. Then make the cut 
about one inch long. (See the illustration). The idea is to 




Make the Cut One Inch Long. If any Blood Should Appear, Pause a Moment 
and Wipe It Up with a Bit of Cotton. 

separate the ribs without cutting any muscles and if the blade 
passes entirely through at the first attempt this well be accom- 
plished and no bleeding will follow. It will be necessary to 
press down very hard on the knife, as that is important. The 

Page Forty-one 



PAGE & SON 

Wholesale Produce PORTLAND, ORE. 

TO OUR SHIPPERS 

As the season is now approaching when 
our shippers will begin hatching their chickens, 
it occurred to us that this was an opportune time 
to make a suggestion to them, which, we think, 
will prove of great benefit to them, if it is fol- 
lowed. 

Probably some of you have already had ex- 
perience in caponizing young roosters, but are 
not aware that there is a ready market here for 
them, in the Northwest. To the others, to whom 
this is unfamiliar, we would like to say that 
you can largely increase your profits by taking 
up this proposition. Experience has shown that it 
costs no more, in feed, to produce a capon, 
weighing from eight to ten pounds, than it does 
to raise a hen weighing from three to four pounds. 
There is a ready demand in this market for fancy, 
dressed capons, all the year around. They will 
bring prices ranging from 20 to 300 per pound, 
according to the season in which they are mar- 
keted. We have recently had a number of ship- 
ments that we have sold at 250 per pound, not- 
withstanding the fact that fancy, live hens were 
being offered at the same time at from 110 to 120 
per pound. You can readily see what a profit 
this is going to mean to you. 

This operation is very simple and has been 
performed on hundreds of fowls, by people with no 
previous experience whatever, and with entire suc- 
cess and without losing any chickens. If this is 
of any interest to you at all, we would be very 
glad to correspond with you further, in regard to 
it, and can guarantee you a market for your 
capons at good prices. We expect the price will 
rule higher than at present, in a couple of months 
from now, as the best time to sell capons is 
when all the large springs have been marketed. 
We have been receiving shipments of last year's 
spring roosters up until a month ago. These could 
have just as well been caponized, and on same 
amount of feed would have weighed about twice as 
much and would have brought double the price, per 
pound. 

For your information, will say that the 
best and most simple tools that are manufactured 
for caponizing chickens, are produced by Mr. Geo. 
Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. He has had long ex- 
perience in handling chickens and is an expert in 
this line. We would suggest that you write him 
direct for information, which he will be glad to 
give you and which we are sure will prove of great 
profit to you. 

PAGE & SON. 
February 3, 1915. 



Page Forty-two 



pressure separates the ribs without cutting the muscles, there- 
by preventing any blood from following. 

The cut made, insert the spreader and open the wound so 
that you can see to work. (See cut showing spreader in posi- 
tion). The first thing that you will see is a thin skin or mem- 
brane covering the intestines. With the tearing hook make a 
small opening in this, which will bring the upper testicle into 
view, a small yellowish object about the size of a navy bean, 
lying up against the backbone, or nearly so, with a blue artery 
just back of it and sometimes attached to it. Care must be 
taken not to cut or tear this artery, or the bird is a dead one. 
Insert the testicle remover with the loops held tightly together, 
pushing the intestines back and out of the way when necessary, 
with them. You will be able to see through the loops when 




j Spreader Inserted, Showing the Method of Using the Tearing Hook. Note the 

Testicle in Plain View Under the Thin Film or Tissue Covering. 

Actual Photo Without Faking in Any Way. 

you have them in the right place. Open the instrument and 
work the loops over the testicle, allowing it to shut gradually 
with the testicle inside the loops. Turn the tool half round 
and back once or twice, so as to loosen the organ as much as 
possible. Be sure you have the grasping parts of the tool in 
the right position and then twist the testicle around a few 
times (like you would to twist a cord or string), drawing the 
parts outward all the time so as to stretch the cords out for 
about an inch. Then reach in with the small knife blade and 
cut the twisted cords and membranes off about half way be- 

Page Forty-three 



tween the testicle and where they attach to the bird. (See illus- 
tration, cutting the testicle off). Remove the spreader, turn 
the bird over and repeat the operation on the other side, pro- 




Cutting the Testicle Off. 



Note the Point of the Knife Under the Organ. 
From an Actual Photo. 



ceeding as before. It is possible to get both testicles from the 
same side, but it is harder and much more dangerous to do, 
and the bird recovers quicker where it is opened upon both 
sides. Do not sew up the cut. When the capon gets on his 
feet the cut in the skin will be up under his wing and not over 



The Old Expert Operators Like Our Tools and Recommend 

Them. 



Edgewater, Colo., June 9, 1912. 

George Beuoy: I received the Capon book, "What's a Capon 
and Why?" and have looked it over and will say it is a complete 
guide for either the amateur or professional caponizer, with the 
proper tools, "which are made by Geo. Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kan." The 
so-called caponizing tools made and advertised by well known firms 
are absolutely worthless, as I have found by costly experience. 

Yours truly, 

I. C. SANDS. 



Page Forty-four 



the ribs at all. (See illustration, three dead birds showing 
muscles, on next page). 




The business end of the Geo. Beuoy Removers. No. 4 shows the loops and 
safety clutch, with testicle (No. 3) held firmly within its grasp. No. 2 repre- 
sents the cords and attachments and No. 1 shows our thin bladed knife cutting 
the cords in the proper place and manner. You will note that the organ was 
first secured in the loops marked No. 4 and then the remover was turned round 
and round so as to twist the cords as shown. The knife used to make the 
cut only. 



Can't See Why. 

Osborne, Kansas, May 24th, 1913. 
George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — About a year ago I ordered a set of your Capon Tools 
and am very much pleased with the results. I worked on fifty (50) 
birds, NOT LOSING ONE. Had five slips and three that puffed up 
a little right after the operation. This is quite a poultry community, 
and I don't see why more are not making capons instead of raising 
a lot of roosters. I have already worked on a few birds this spring 
for neighbors, but would much rather they do the work themselves. 
Yours very truly, H. C. NEILSON, Breeder of White Wyandottes. 



Would Not Part With Them. 

McPherson, Kans., Sept. 8th, 1913. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — I received my caponizing set, No. 10, from you about 
two months ago. I would not part with it if I could not get another 
like it. I had grand success with it in every way. Have not lost a 
single bird yet. Have caponized something over 100 chickens so 
far and have a good many left to work on yet. Yours truly, 

LEE WILSON. 



Page Forty-five 




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CHAPTER VII. 

CARE AFTER THE OPERATION. 
Wind Puffs. 

They will be ready for their feed as soon as turned loose, 
but should be watered first. Feed lightly of whatever they 
are accustomed to. Be sure to separate them so that not over 
eight or ten will go to roost in any one box or coop, as where 
there is a larger number together they will crowd and some 
will smother. After the second night following the operation 
they will be all right and may then be safely turned together. 
In three or four days after the operation some of the capons 
may develop wind puffs. This is caused by the cut healing 
too fast. It is not serious, only air or wind under the skin 
which can not escape. The remedy is to make an opening in 
the skin so as to let it escape. A pin or needle will not make 
large enough opening ; it is best to use a pair of scissors and 
cut out a small pinch of skin. This is just the outer skin of the 
bird and is void of feeling, so does not cause the fowl any suf- 
fering. This will not be necessary in very many birds, but 
once in a while it will occur. More often in birds where the 
operation is performed from one side only. In three or four 
days after the operation the capons may be allowed the free 
run of the place. They are great rustlers, more like a hen in 
actions and appearance than anything else. Yet they are dif- 
ferent from all other feathered creatures, taking on fat in sur- 
prising amounts in proportion to the feed consumed. They 
will begin to heavy down and show that they are capons when 
about six months old. The American breeds will, if crowded 
along, weigh from 10 to 15 pounds when they are ten months 



Two Puffed Up. 

Lincoln, Neb., June 29th, 1913. 
George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — Just a line to tell you that I have had GOOD suc- 
cess with the Geo. Beuoy Capon Tools that I got of you some time 
ago. 

I operated on fourteen "Anconas" the first time and killed only 
one (a very small one), and they are doing fine. Two of them 
puffed up a little, but are over it now. Have since operated on 
twenty "White Rocks." Lost NOT A SINGLE ONE, so I think I am 
quite an expert. I will have about one hundred "Anconas" to fix 
the coming week. Yours truly, 

W. D. CRAWFORD. 



Page Forty-seven 



of age. The operation may be performed at any time in any 
month of the year if the birds can be found that are right. 

We usually caponize the late fall chickens to use for fos- 
ter mothers to take care of the early spring hatched chicks. 
Each winter we carry over about thirty to be used for that pur- 
pose. These fellows will then make 15-pound capons for the 
following holiday season. They will command the very top 
prices, as the more they weigh the more they are worth per 
pound. 

PROPER FEED FOR CAPONS. 

Feed the same as other poultry. They will do better, of 
course, on free range, but this is not essential. They are not 
supbject to disease like other poultry, hence stand confinement 
well. Plenty of green feed is a big help. It makes them thrifty, 
and for this purpose sowed oats, wheat or rye is best, with al- 
falfa just about as good. Sprouted oats are excellent. The 
main feed, however, should be corn — good yellow corn — all they 
can be induced to eat all the time. That is the proper way to 
feed it to capons for profit. Feed the other things mentioned 
in order to whet their appetites so they will eat more corn. 
Alfalfa meal wet up with milk, sour or sweet, is one of the best 
growing feeds we have ever tried. The last two weeks before 
marketing or butchering, confine them to a small yard and 
feed corn chop soaked in milk. Feed about four times a day, 
all that they can be coaxed to clean up good. This method will 
plump out the carcass and give that rich milk fed flavor so 
much in demand. 



Looked G-ood to Custom Officials. 



South Vancouver, Canada, Jan. 4th, 1914. 

George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Gentlemen: — Several months ago I purchased a No. 10 set of 
your caponizing tools, and put it to use a few days after receiving 
it. I operated on 6 birds of my own and ten (10) belonging to an- 
other party, and out of the bunch I only lost one bird. And out of 
the balance I did not have one "slip." 

I exhibited one of my capons at the Vancouver Poultry Show 
(a Buff Orpington) and took first prize. He weighed eight pounds 
before he was six months old. 

Your instruments looked so good to the CUSTOM OFFICERS 
that they passed them as surgical instruments on which there is 
no duty. 

Yours very truly, 

Box 39. W. C. JENKINS. 



Page Forty-eight 



CHAPTER VIII. 
MARKETING. 

Dealers will tell you that capons are in season or out of 
season, depending on the time of year that the inquiry is made. 
Capons, like strawberries, are good at any time of the year 
that you can get them. It takes capons from nine months to 
a year to mature. As chickens and other fowls are mostly 
hatched in the spring months, they will mature or get ripe dur- 
ing February, March and April, depending on the time that 
they were hatched. As there is no profit in holding them over 
during the summer months, or after they have become fully 
matured, it as a matter of course follows that they must be 
marketed during these three months ; hence the so-called sea- 
son. As incubators come into more general use and chicks 
are hatched at all seasons of the year, it may be possible to 
secure capons at all times. In selling capons on the open mar- 
ket to local produce dealers, if the best prices are expected, 
the seller must be able to furnish enough capons at one time 
and properly finished, to at least fill one crate. Any fair- 
minded person can readily see that a dealer can not handle one 
or two capons so as to make a profit, as they do not sell well 
in mixed lots, generally going at hen prices. If you are grow* 
ing them and expect to sell on the open market, always arrange 
to have at least two dozen to market together. The more you 
have the better prices you will be able to obtain. Dealers will 
bid much higher where there are enough birds to make it inter- 
esting. 



McPherson, Kansas, April 4, 1914. 
Richard Butler Produce Co., Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — Have received quotations regular and thanks for 
them. Also note that you advise shipment now. Will say that I 
have shipped you all the capons I had. I was very well satisfied 
with the price I received but was a little surprised at the amount 
they lost in weight between here and there. We did not have the 
accurate weight but thought it was about 12 or 14 pounds more 
than they weighed there. 

There are a few other parties here who have been watching my 
capons to see how they grow and how much I received for them 
and they are going to have some chicks caponized this year. Two 
other parties besides myself are going to try to raise 100 capons 
each this summer and have them weighing as near 10 pounds by 
next February or March as we can. Between the three of us and 
with what others we can get we ought to have around 4,000 pounds 
by March 1st, 1915. 

Thanking you for past favors, I am, yours truly, 

LEE WILSON. 



Page Forty-nine 



Where several neighbors can arrange to club together and 
have their capons ready at the same time, and all sell together, 
much better prices can be realized. Small capons do not sell 
well, as they must possess size in order to show that they are 
real capons. The little ones look too much like small roosters. 
To bring top prices capons should weigh over eight pounds 
each. In this respect they are no different from other animals, 
as it is pretty well understood that runty, undersized steers or 
hogs do not command the best prices. Quality counts in capons 
as well as in all other animals. Pure bred fowls show up their 
quality and run much more even in all market requirements 
than common or mixed breeds, therefore it is desirable to use- 
standard or pure bred fowls for capons. Chickens and ducks 
make the best capons for profit. Turkeys and geese may be 
worked on, but have to be kept about two years to become 
fully matured, therefore are not so popular for caponizing. 
Barred Plymouth Rock chickens are perhaps the best for mak- 
ing capons. Their long back gives plenty of room to do the 
work. Their large size, yellow skin and legs, together with 
their quick-growing qualities, makes them very desirable as 
capons. The fact that they are great winter layers makes it 
possible to get fertile eggs to incubate very early in the sea- 
son. The greatest point in favor of Barred Rocks for capons 
is due to the fact that you can tell the males much sooner than 
in any other breed of fowls. In the Barred Rocks the males 
can be told as soon as hatched, as they are always much lighter 
in color than the females. In some breeds of chickens, especial- 
ly the solid colored birds, it is very hard to tell the males soon 
enough to make good capons. Outside of the facts mentioned 
any breed of fowls will make good capons. 

Leghorns and the small breeds make good mothers and 
furnish canons with that gamey flavor so much favored by 
certain classes. It is well to remember that it will pay to have 
a few capons whether you ever sell one or not. You can not 
afford to be without them for your own use. The fact that 
they bring twice as much as any other class of poultry need 
not be considered. The point is they are the best eating on 
earth. Everyone that has chickens at all should have some 
capons, especially when you can have them without any extra 
expense. One capon will more than pay for the tools to do it 
with. Dressed capons bring the highest price. In dressing, it 
must be done in a way to show that it is a capon. Otherwise 
the purchaser could not tell for sure what it was; he might 
think it only a rooster. In order that there be no mistake on 
this point, custom and fashion long established has laid down 
certain rules that must be followed in dressing capons for the 
market. 

One requirement is that the capons arrive in as nearly 
whole condition as possible. It is desirable that they be drawn, 

Page Fifty-one 



The Semour lPacking Company 
Topeka, Kansas 



December 26, 1914. 

Mrs. John A. Miller, 

Oxford, Kans., Route 1. 

Dear Madam : 

Through the courtesy of Mr. Geo. Beuoy, 
of Cedarvale, Ks., your recent letter to him 
regarding capons has been referred to us. We 
note from your letter that your birds are still 
a little under size and suggest that you feed 
them until they reach a weight of 7 lbs. each or 
over. This may require some feeding and delay 
in marketing, but we believe it will pay you to 
adopt this plan. We are unable to predict what 
the capon market will be later on but at present 
we are offering 16 cts. per pound, for capons 
weighing 7 lbs. each and over. For capons 
weighing less than 7 lbs. each, 2 to 4 
cts per pound less. The low price also applies 
to slips although slips must necessarily be graded 
as to appearance and size and some times have 
no greater value than stags. 

It is highly important that the birds be 
in good flesh to bring the best figures. We 
have a plant at Winfield, Ks., which is nearer 
your point than Topeka and the prices just 
quoted will apply for delivery at that point. 
If you should favor us with your shipments, please 
mail invoices to Winfield and write the word "Capons" 
plainly, across the shipping tags. 



HOD L 



Yours very truly, 

THE SEYMOUR PACKING CO 



Page Fifty-two 



in fact, some state laws require it. In order to draw a fowl 
without mutilating the carcass, it is necessary that the bird 
be not allowed anything to eat for at least twenty-four hours 
before they are killed. Confined for that length of time with- 
out anything to eat the crop and intestines will become entirely 
empty. This makes these organs much smaller in size, as well 
as toughening them, thus permitting them to be taken out with 
ease. 

A capon's comb and wattles never grow after the opera- 
tion, and the real capon always has a pale look about the head ; 
only the slips will redden up. In the real capon the head re- 
mains very small. The spurs on a capon will develop slowly un- 
less removed. The same as the horns on a steer. They will 
not get so large as the entire male's but they will grow some 
just the same. For these reasons the real capon must always 
have the head left on, together with a few neck feathers. That 
is his trademark, so to speak. On a capon the tail feathers 
and coverlets are very long and abundant, for that reason they 
must be left on. And just to give the carcass a finished look 
the feathers on the two outer, joints of the wings are also left. 
The feet are left on and in some places where the market re- 
quires it, a ring of feathers are left around each leg just above 
the knee joint. 

Always dry pick your capon. Do not scald, as this would 
spoil the keeping qualities of the bird; besides it would ruin the 
feathers. Capon feathers are valuable. They will more than 
pay for the dressing. They sell next to duck and geese feathers. 
All of the coarse, hard feathers are left on the bird, only the 
soft, down ones being plucked. 

As it is necessary for the capon head to remain on the car- 
cass the only practical way to kill him will be to stick inside 
the mouth. As there are two veins that join just under the 
skin in the back part of the mouth, this is easily done, and much 
more humane than chopping their heads off, anyway. The 
small blade of an ordinary pocket knife will be all that is re- 
quired. (See cut for proper way to do it). To make the stieik, 
hang the capon up by his feet, as he will bleed out much quick- 
er and cleaner in this position, and be ready to pick as soon 
as properly stuck. Reach the blade of the knife well back in 
his mouth, sharp edge up, and sever the veins -as shown in the 
illustration. Then stick the point of the knife through the 
roof of the bird's mouth, so that the point will enter the brain. 
This will cause him to loose all feeling and will cause the feath- 
ers to loosen. After he is properly stuck you can pluck the f eath 
ers with ease; they will almost come out of their own accord 
after you learn to make the stick just right. It is a good scheme 
to have a small weight attached to a small hook to hang in his 
lower bill while you are picking. This will hold him still and 
prevent swinging around. The bird properly plucked, all pin 

Page Fifty-three 



feathers and down having been removed, due care being taken 
not to tear or bruise the skin, the bird is ready to draw. It is 




The Froper Way to Make the Stick. The Drawing- Shows Where to Find the 

Arteries to Cut. 




coKKecr cur 

CRoove /a/ 
reoor or mouth 



EYE 

EfO OF SfAk 



best to have a table handy for this purpose. Lay the carcass 
on its back and cut around the vent. A great deal of fat will 

Page Fifty- four 



be found at this point, attached to the intestines ; as you pull 
them out, push the fat back into the bird. This fat will "bug 
out" at the opening when the bird is finished and give a very 
rich, tempting appearance. When the end of the intestine is 
reached, run the thumb and fore-finger up inside the bird as 
far as possible and break them off, leaving everything else in- 
side the bird. The crop is perfectly empty and clean, hence it 
is left in, as it could not be removed without spoiling the looks 
of the carcass. Now wash him very thoroughly; be sure to get 
the feet and head clean ; sponge the breast very carefully. Hang 
up by the feet and allow to cool over night, then they will be 




(Photo by Deering.) 

Just Finished, Properly Dressed, Weight Twenty Pounds, Dressed Ten Pounds 

Each, Worth Twenty-five Cents per Pound, or Five Dollars for the Pair. 

ready to pack for shipment. Line a box or- barrel with nice 
clean white paper and put the birds in breast down. If it is 
warm weather, put in plenty of ice in top and bottom. 

List of buyers follow : 



Page Fifty-five 



Eastern Capon Buyers 

The following list of reliable capon buyers is just a very few of 
the best selected from all parts of the country. There are hundreds 
of others, and no doubt one close to you. With this list you will 
have no trouble iin finding a good market no matter where you are 
located. 

ZELLERS & TAYLOR, Bordertown, N. J., supply New York Market. 

BATCHELDER-SNYDER CO., Blackstone St., Boston, Mass. 

WALTER A. TUTTLE, Scott St., Buffalo, N. Y. 

GEORGE OLIVER & CO., Produce, New York City, West Hampton 
Market, N. Y. 

MYERS WEIL & CO., Produce, Cleveland, Ohio. 

PHILIP QUIGLEY, Produce, 345 Front St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

EDSON BROS. PRODUCE CO., Philadelphia, Penn. 

F. W. WHEELER & CO., Produce, 93 Clinton St., Boston, Mass. 

HAZELGROVE & CO., 14 St. 13th St., Richmond, Va. 

PENINSULAR PRODUCE CO., 23 Cedar St., Jacksonville, Fla. 
TAMPA SANITARY POULTRY CO., Box 666, Tampa, Fla. 
WALLIS & SCOTT, Produce, Tampa, Fla. 

E. R. JAQUES & SON, Produce, Home Office at Thornton, Ind. This 
firm also buys capons at Lebanon, LaFayette and Petersburg, 
Ind. 

Capon Buyers of Central and 
Southern States 

I. P. ALMERAS PRODUCE CO., 2415 Strand St., Galveston, Texas. 

W. N. GUTHRIE WHOLESALE PRODUCE CO., Rogers, Tenn. 

SWIFT & CO., Enid, Okla, 

A. A. JACKSON & CO., Dallas, Texas. 

SWIFT & CO., Des Moines, la. 

DE SOTO CREAM & PRODUCE CO., Minneapolis, Minn. 

PERRY COMMISSION CO., Omaha, Neb. 

NATIONAL POULTRY PRODUCE CO., Falls City, Neb. 

S. P. POND & CO., Produce, Keokuk, la. 

PAQUETTE CASH MARKET, 520 Pearl St., Cioux City, la. 

GEO. L. COLLINS & CO., Produce, Detroit, Mich. 

CARTER & LEHR PRODUCE CO., Detroit, Mich. 

Page Fifty-six 



SEYMOUR PACKING CO., Topeka, Kas. This firm also buys at 
Winfield and Solomon, Kas. 

SWIFT & CO., Parsons, Kas. 

MEEK & CO., Wholesale Produce, Fourth and Monroe Sts., To- 
peka, Kas. 

COPES SALE SYSTEM, Box 155, Topeka, Kas. 

NATIONAL POULTRY CO., Atchison, Kas. 

SWIFT & CO, Wichita, Kas. 

H. L. BROWN & SON PRODUCE CO., 219 S. Water St., Chicago, 111. 

GALLAGHER BROS. PRODUCE CO., 165 W. S. Water St., Chi- 
cago, 111. 

NATIONAL POULTRY CO., Atchison, Kas. 

RICHARD BUTLER PRODUCE CO., Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. 

J. R. PEDEN PRODUCE CO., Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. 

A. W. BEAR & CO., Produce, Kansas City, Mo. 

AARON BROS., Produce, Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. 

KANSAS POULTRY PRODUCE CO., Kansas City, Mo., Stall 2, 
City Market. 

EUREKA PRODUCE COMMISSION CO., St. Louis, Mo. 

F. W. BROCKMAN PRODUCE CO., St. Louis, Mo. 

McLAIN & ALCOM PRODUCE CO., St. Louis, Mo. 

MEMPHIS HOTEL CO., care Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tenn. 
CALANZANO BROS., Produce, 1822 Fourth Ave., Birmingham, Ala. 
JOHN BONURA & CO., Front St., New Orleans, La. 
BIRMINGHAM PRODUCE CO., Birmingham, Ala. 
SAVANAAH PRODUCE CO., Savannah, Ga. 
WILLIAM SCHMIDT, Produce, Fort Worth, Texas. 
MERCHANTS' PRODUCE CO., Dallas, Texas. 

Western Capon Buyers 

PAGE & SON, Produce, Portland, Ore. 

CALIFORNIA POULTRY CO., The Stalls, 122, California Market, 
San Francisco, Calif. 

KEYSTONE POULTRY & EGG CO., 16 California, San Francisci, 
Calif. 

H. L. GRIFFIN PRODUCE CO., Ogden, Utah. 

THE PINKETT BROS. PRODUCE CO., 1625 Market St., Denver, 
Colo. 

THE RHODES RANCH EGG CO., Denver, Colo. 

EPPEL PRODUCE CO., Denver, Colo. 

EMMETT PRODUCE CO., Emmett, Idaho. 



Page Fifty-seven 



BATCHELDER & SNYDER COMPANY 

Slaughterers, Poultry Dressers and Butter Makers 
Wholesale Dealers In 

Beef, Mutton, l.amb> Veal, Pork, Lard, Hams, Bacon, 
Sausages, Poultry, Game, Butter, Cheese, Beans 

Office & Stores: 55 to 63 Blackstone Street 
BOSTON, 

Feb. 7, 1914. 



George Beuoy, 

Dingley Dell Farm, 

Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: 

We are in receipt of your letter of the 
1st. 

We are handling Western packs of all 
kinds of poultry on a straight 5% commission 
basis, and do not think you are too far away 
from our market. If your birds will weigh from 
ten to twelve pounds each, they will bring good 
prices. We would like to see a sample and to 
have you give us an idea of how many you can 
produce during February and March. 

We have the best kind of a jobbing and 
wholesale outlet, and if your birds will weigh 
what you say they will, we can sell them to good 
advantage for you. There is no reason in the 
world why if your birds are of that size and 
the quality is right they should not go into 
competition with New Jersey capon. 

Yours very truly, 

BATCHELDER & SNYDER COMFANX, 
Dictated A. J. Buxbaum, Mgr. Poultry Dept. 



Page Fifty-eight 



FACTS ABOUT CAPONS. 

Capons are the most profitable part of the chicken busi- 
ness. They are not subject to disease like other poultry. Sold 
on the open market, capons will average at least twice as much 
per pound as hens. 

A capon will average about twice as heavy and bring twice 
as much per pound, therefore a capon will sell for just four 
times as much money as the ordinary hen. The cost to raise 
the capon is just the same as for the hen. 

Remember, it will pay you to have a few capons just for 
your own use, whether you ever intend to sell one or not. Ca- 
pons, fat and well finished, will bring on the market from $2 
to $3 each, sold one at a time or in bunches. Capons are always 
in demand. The supply of capons is never equal to market re- 
quirements. 

CAPON MARKET GUARANTEED. 

We guaranteed to furnish you a ready market at the top 
prices for any or all capons that you can furnish, fat and well 
finished. They will usually bring more, but it is safe to figue 
that they will sell for twice as much per pound as the average 
price of hens. 

The bigger the capon the more he will bring per pound. 
Early spring hatched chicks make the very best capons and 
bring the highest prices. Late summer and fall hatched chicks 
make the best capons to use as mothers for little chicks. 

In caponizing, the only loss worth considering will be from 
the " slips" that you make. There are never enough birds killed 
in operating to amount to anything, and if this should happen 
the bird is just as good to eat as if killed in any other way. 
Where the old style instruments were used fully half the birds 
worked would develop into "slips," no matter how expert the 
operator might be. With the new George Beuoy Automatic Ca- 
pon Tools anyone can make real capons every time. These new 
tools have a safety clutch that prevents "slips." 



"A SLIP" is a bird that has been operated on and a part 
of the organ or its attachment left inside the bird. Where this 
occurs nature attempts to grow a new organ and a "slip" or 
staggy bird results. And, like a stag in other animals, he is 
docked or sold for less money on the market. With the tool 
illustrated on the following page you can see through the loops 
all the time and know what you are doing, therefore you get 
no "slips." 

Page Fifty-nine 



$25.00 IN GOLD THE WINNING EXHIBIT. 



ST. LOUIS, 
TOPEKA 



KANSAS CITY, 
WICHITA 




A part of George Beuoy's Capon display at the Kansas Federation 
Show at Independence. Note the case of ribbons above the Capons; each 
ribbon won in hot competition. This was the largest display of Capons 
ever held in this or any other country, up to that time, of which we have 
any record. Mr. Beuoy's display of Capons and his instruments have 
won the highest gold awards at every exhibition and show that he has 
shown at in the last three years. At this show Mr. Beuoy was elected 
president of the Kansas Poultry Federation and re-elected the following 
year at Topeka. 



Never Saw the Operation — Had Splendid Success. 

Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 24th, 1914. 
Mr. George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas. 

Dear Sir: — I bought a 'No. 10 set of Capon Tools of you. I have 
about 75 capons. As this is my first experience I wish your assist- 
ance in MARKETING them. My capons are mostly small mixed 
breeds. Next year I will have all Barred Plymouth Rocks. I had 
very good luck for my first experience, for I had never seen the 
operation performed; in fact, I had never seen a set of tools. I 
read your directions and went at it, and only lost but a very few. 
Yours very truly, GUS H. WEBER. 



Page Sixty 



KANSAS CITY, WICHITA, INDEPENDENCE, ST. LOUIS. 

TOPEKA 

Four Times Highest Gold 

Award 

Capon tools, to prove their merit, must make real capons 
and not "slips." At the Kansas State Poultry Show at Wichita, 
1913, the HIGHEST GOLD AWARD and best prize of the show 
was given to an exhibit of twenty capons all made with the 
George Beuoy Automatic Safe Capon Tools. Patented 1911 and 
1912. 

Missouri State and Kansas City fanciers combined show 
held at Kansas City Convention hall December, 1913. George 
Beuoy Capon Tools again proved their merit by winning both 
the first and second prizes and all cash awards on capons, re- 
peating the winning again at St. Louis, November, 1914. 

The largest display of capons ever assembled in a show 
room. At Independence, Kan., January, 1914. The best prizes 
offered on poultry in the state of Kansas this season were of- 
fered on capons at Independence, and George Beuoy Capon Tools 
again won over all makes and styles the coveted prize of $25 
in gold given by the Richard Butler Produce Company of Kan- 
sas City, Mo., for the best display of capons, all kinds and va- 
rieties competing. 

George Beuoy Capon Tools won four years in succession 
at the four largest and best capon shows in this or any other 
country. 

Four Times Highest Gold 

Award 

The winning exhibit of twenty capons at the Kansas State 
Show, referred to above and made with Automatic Safe Capon 
Tools, were pronounced by Judge Rapp of Illinois to be 100 per 
cent capons. The next best display, made with- Pilling Toola> 
was 331-3 per cent "slips" or only 66 2-3 per cent capons. 
In buying capon tools it pays to get the best. We guarantee 
George Beuoy Capon Tools to be the best made for the purpose, 
or your money back, you to be the judge. Order a set of our 
tools and compare them with any other capon tools made. If 
you don't like ours best, return them and we will refund your 
money in full and no questions asked, or 

C. O. D. If You Prefer 

Page Sixty-one 




GEORGE BEUOY SAYS TO TELL YOU 

That he has the best and only exclusive equipment for 
making capon tools in the United States. Mr. Beuoy de- 
votes his entire time to making and selling capon instru- 
ments, and every instrument that leaves his factory has 
been personally inspected and adjusted by him. Mr. Beuoy 
personally owns all the stock of the Capon Tool Company 
and will make all guarantees and agreements of that com- 
pany good. Making capon instruments is not a side line, 
but is Mr. Beuoy 's specialty. His entire time is devoted 
to making the best possible instruments. His trained work- 
men make capon tools and nothing else. Each workman 
is an expert caponizer and keeps in practice on live birds 
raised and finished right at the factory. Mrs. Beuoy and 
daughter, Helen, raise and care for the chickens. Mr. 
Beuoy makes the instruments and the capons and guaran- 
tees them. His instruments are fifty years in advance, 
not behind. The instrument trust, the old time, out-of- 
date "side line makers," are imitating his tools. Be sure 
to get the genuine George Beuoy Instruments. 

The only Tested Guaranteed Caponizing Instruments 
on the market. 



Page Sixty-two 



George Beuoy Capon Tools 

AUTOMATIC SAFE. 

Make the operation simple, safe and easy. Ladies or chil- 
dren over 10 years of age can use these tools just as well as 
anyone. Used by the United States Government. Four sets 
were sold to the government officers for use at Jefferson Bar- 
racks last season. Adopted and used by Canadian government. 

George Beuoy Latest Remover 




TESTED (PATENTED 1912) TESTED 
(No Extra Charg-e on that Account.) 

The business end of this remover consists of two loops, the lips of which 
are beveled outward like a dove's tail and fitted together like a split hair. The 
outward bevel prevents it grasping parts that are not wanted and the fine 
adjusted grip holds the parts to be removed absolutely secure. The instrument 
is made of Bessemer steel adjusted by hand and finished in the best nickel plate. 
Price, postpaid $1.75 

SEE PAGE 69 FOR GUARANTEE. 



Indorsed and recommended by the leading Agricultural 
Colleges and Experiment Stations, one of which wrote under 
date of March 6, 1913: 

"I am certainly pleased with the Automatic Capon Tools 
secured of you last fall. Especially with their simplicity and 
also with the ease and quickness with which a person can per- 
form the operation. We had excellent success with the instru- 
ments and like them very much. Yours sincerely, 

"SUPERINTENDENT OF POULTRY HUSBANDRY." 

Page Sixty-three 



George Beuoy Humane Spreader 



AUTOMATIC SAFE. 



This is the instrument used to spread the last two ribs apart 
so that you can see to do the work. We furnish full and com- 
plete illustrated instructions with each purchase. 




SEE PAGE 69. 



TESTED (PATENTED 1912) TESTED 
(No Extra Charge on that Account.) 

The flanges, marked No. 1, are inserted between the ribs and the handles, 
marked No. 4, brought together, the link, marked No. 3, drops back by gravity 
and holds them spread at any desired width. The hinge, marked No. 2, fits up 
into the bird's flank and holds the tool steady. Price, postpaid $1.50 




TESTED (PATENTED 1912) TESTED 
(No Extra Charge on That Account.) 

GEORGE BEUOY HUMANE SPREADER— This pic- 
ture shows thte tool open. You have plenty of room to 
work between the arm, marked No. 1. The compound 
spring hige, marked No. 2, closes the spreader auto- 
matically and presents a yielding force that is most hu- 
mane in it saction. Price, postpaid $1.50 

Page Sixty-four 




George Beuoy New Model Remover 




TESTED (PATENTED 1911) TESTED 
(No Extra Charge on that Account.) 

THE GEORGE BEUOY NEW MODEL REMOVER— Open ready for busi- 
ness. The coompound spring- hinge shuts the tool automatically and holds it 
securely closed. The loops, marked No. 1, and the arms, marked No. 2, are 
exactly the same as on the Automatic Remover and are covered by the same 
patents. The two removers are used much the same. The New Model, how- 
ever, opens and closes like a pair of scissors or forceps and is preferred by 
some for that reason. It costs us more to make it and is sold higher for that 
reason and not on account of any advantage it has over the Automatic Remover. 

Price of New Model Remover, postpaid $3.00 

Geo. Beuoy Capon Tools, Fifty Years In Advance 



SEE PAOE 69 FOR GUARANTEE. 



Proof That Beginners Do Not Kill the Birds. 



Chelsea, Okla., Aug. 31, 1912. 

George Beuoy, Cedar Vale, Kansas: — You will re-member that I 
bought an outfit of your caponizing instruments this season. I oper- 
ated on 118 fine Barred Rock boys and only lost two birds. As I 
had never seen an operation of this kind, to say that I am pleased 
is putting it rather mildly. The instructions were so very plain that 
I did not even try on a dead bird as recommended, but operated on 
ten before I killed my first bird. So far I haven't had a "slip" to 
develop. Any "BOOST" I can give you I will gladly do so. Yours 
very truly, 

R. R. No. 1, Box 28. C E. BRASHER. 



Page Sixty-five 



Prices of Geo, Beuoy Capon 

Tool Sets 



Our $2.50 Set— Capon Set No. 8 

"Automatic-Safe" 



ROOSTER 

OR 

CAPON 




WHICH 
SHALL 
IT BE? 



TESTED (PATENTED 1911-12) TESTED 
(No Extra Charge on that Account.) 

This set of tools is exactly the same as the No. 10 set described below, ex- 
cept that we put in the common coil spring for spreading the ribs instead of 
the Humane Spreader. The spreader that we send with this set is an extra 
good spring spreader. Excepting the Humane Spreader it is the best spreader 
that we have seen. We guarantee you cannot equal it anywhere else for 
the price. The No. 8 Capon Set, price, postpaid $2.50 

George Beuoy Capon Set No. 10 

•'Automatic-Safe" 



THE 

TOOLS 

THAT 




MADE 
CAPONS 
FAMOUS 



TESTED (PATENTED 1911-12) TESTED 
(No Extra Charge on that Account.) 

This set is put up in a neat box, packed in cotton and contains the Auto- 
matic Remover as illustrated on page 40, and the Humane Spreader as shown 
on page 41, the new design of operating knife made from imported Swedish 
band saw steel, the combination hook and probe, together with the necessary 
hooks and cords for fastening the bird. These tools are the very best work- 
manship and are made from Bessemer steel and imported German spring steel. 
They cost a little more, but are worth it. Sent postpaid with full and complete 
instructions. Price, via parcels post, prepaid $3.50 



READ GUARANTEE ON PAGE 69. 



Page Sixty-six 



A $5.00 Set of Capon Tools Worth The Money 



No. 11, New Model. 



A 

MONEY 

MAKING 




SET OF 
CAPON 
TOOLS 



TESTED (PATENTED 1911-12) TESTED 
(No Extra Charge on that Account.) 

This set will please the most exacting. It contains the New Model Remover, 
illustrated on page 43; also the Humane Spreader shown on page 41. The new 
design, thin bladed knife, seven inches long. The combination hook and probe, 
together with the necessary cords and attachments for securing the bird. 
Finished like all of our tools in the very best nickel plate and polished. To- 
gether with full and complete instructions, fully illustrated, packed in cotton 
in neat box and sent via parcels post, prepaid $5.00 



No. 9, New Model. 



This set is the same as No. 11, except that it has the common coil spring 
spreader instead of the Humane Spreader. Price, via parcels post, prepaid. .$4.00 



We recommend the George Beuoy No. 10 Caponizing Sets 
for the use of most people. It is the set that most poultrymen 
who know buy. It gives great satisfaction. 



Professionals 9 and Veterinarians 9 Combina- 
tion Caponizing Sets 

No. 15 Sets. 



This set of tools is intended to meet the demand and requirements of those 
that intend to make a business of caponizing and for those that wish to have 
a set of tools that leaves nothing to be desired. The instruments that go into 
this set are the same high grade tools that are put into our other sets. It sells 
for more money on account that it contains more instruments than are in any 
one of the other sets. In this set we are putting one instrument of all our 
different makes as follows: The Automatic Remover, the New Model Remover, 
the Humane Spreader, the common coil spring Spreader, one Operating Knife, 
a set of hooks and cords for fastening the bird, the Combinatioon Probe and 
Hook, together with one copy of "What's a Capon and Why?" All packed in 
cotton in a neat box and sent postpaid. Price, via parcel post, prepaid $7.50 

Instructions for sending money and address on page 69. 

Page Sixty-seven 



George Beuoy Capon Tools 

Fifty Years In Advance 




No. 1. Hooks and cords for fastening the fowl during the operation. The hooks 
are for fastening the cords about the fowl's legs and wings and saves tieing 
a knot each time. Price, postpaid 25c 





No. 2. Operating knife for separating the ribs and removing the testicles. Also 
an excellent knife for killing all kinds of poultry for market. Made from 
the best grade of imported Swedish band saw steel, will hold a razor edge. 
Finished in polished nickle. Price, postpaid 50c 




No. 3. Common Spring Spreader. Made from the best grade of spring steel. 
Adjusted to spread birds of one pound and half to two pounds in weight. 
Can be regulated as to strength by bending the arms of the spring to suit. 
Finished in polished nickle. Price, postpaid 50c 



No. 4. Combined Hook and Probe. The sharp hook end for making the open- 
ing in the tissue covering the intestines so that the testicles may be plainly 
seen. The flat probe end for pushing the intestines back in case it is neces- 
sary, so as to have a clear view of the work to be done. This is a mighty 
handy instrument to use in dressing any kind of a wound. Cotton may be 
wrapped about the hcok end for wiping up blood or for cleaning an old sore. 
Farmers will find this instrument especially useful in removing screw worms 
from barb wire cuts. Made from the best grade of open hearth steel, heav- 
ily plated and polished. Price, postpaid 50c 

Page Sixty-eight 



Remember These Tools Are 

Sold Subject to Your Approval 

Tested — Guaranteed. 

Order a set or a single instrument. When it comes, look 
it over and try it out. Then if it is not up to your expectations 
in every way, return it to us within a reasonable time and we 
will refund your money, or if you prefer send 10 cents in stamps 
and we will send them C. 0. D. via parcels post and you can 
just pay the mail carrier for them. 

Please do not send personal checks. We have to pay ex- 
change on them. 

Remit by Bank Draft, Postoffice Money Order or Express 
Order. We have one of the largest Poultry Farms in the coun- 
try — 160 acres devoted to the raising of chickens for profit 
exclusively. We will take pleasure in answering any or all 
questions that you may care to ask. More than that, they will 
be answered by a man who knows what he is talking about, a 
man who is making good raising chickens. Address and make 
all moneys payable to 

GEORGE BEUOY, Cedar Yale, Kan. 




"SODANUX-INE," THE $400 POULTRY REMEDY. 

I have a POULTRY REMEDY that I want you to know 
about. It has done me a lot of good, and if I did not know 
about this preventive and cure I would quit the poultry busi- 
ness at once. It is not a patented article and is the only drug 
that I know of that has any noticeable effect on poultry. 

Page Sixty-nine 



F. W. BROCKMAN COMMISSION CO. 

Marketing Agents For Growers and Associations 
Fruits and Produce 

Eggs, Butter, Poultry, Game 

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 14th, 1914, 



Mr. Geo. Beuoy, 

Cedar Vale, Kas. 

Dear Sir: 

We are in receipt of your favor of the 12th, 
attaching letter from Mr. E. A. Morse at Marissa, 111. 
In reply will say that you are certainly rendering the 
country and the farmers a great service by teach- 
ing them to caponize. There never is a sufficient 
quantity of capons on sale to meet the demand, 
and the prices that are being paid for capons, 
ought to indicate to the poultry raiser that his 
money is best obtained through using his male 
birds for caponizing, as it stands to reason that 
at a time when people have had a surfeit of 
turkey, they want a better meat. 

We handle a great many during the season, 
and prices usually range from 16 to 20 cents 
per pound for live, and from 18 to 25 cents for 
dressed capons. However, of course they must be 
genuine capons and not slips to bring top 
figures. 

If you have the names of any capon rais- 
ers that you desire us to get in touch with, 
send them to us. As stated the market is never 
over-loaded, so let them come. 

Yours very truly, 

F. W. BROCKMAN COM. CO. 
FWB/M. 



Page Seventy 



CHICKEN" 



0DA-NUX-1N 



E: 




MEDICINE"" 

""Copyright 
-i s i s 

GEORGE BEUOY, OF THE FAMOUS DINGLEY DELL FARM, SAYS: 

MY SUCCESS as a Poultry-Raiser and Farmer is based on the virtues of 
SODA-NUX-INE. Without a supply of it on hand I would not attempt to 
raise chickens or other fowls. Composed of Sodium-Sulphite, Nux Vomica and 
Quinine— proved remedies used both by the Medical and Veterinarian professions 
— prepared by the world's best and greatest chemists. 

It is not a new wrinkle, patented, and sold for more than it is worth on that 
account. I have often told the public, and written in my articles published in 
various large and popular papers, of the good Qualities and cures of this com- 
pound: I have found that the poultry raiser often has troubles in getting the 
drugs fresh and in right proportions. To be of any value this preparation must 
be kept air-tight. If it is exposed to the air it will slack exactly as lime does. 
Then it is no good and has no value as a poultry remedy or cure. It is on that 
account I have used chemically pure drugs made as required and put up in air- 
tight capsules, a proper dose to each capsule, so that it will keep indefinitely 
and hold its strength. 

SODA-NUX-INE is a blood remedy and is a real cure or preventive, used in 
any disease where there is a secretion or pus as one of the symptoms, such as 
Roup, Chicken Pox, Sore Head, Colds, Looseness of Bowels, White Diarrhoea 
and so-called Cholera. The attempt of the fowl to rid its system of impurities 
in the form of pus is the chief sign of the above diseases, as is shown by the 
discharge at nose, in the droppings or unhealthy sores. 

SODA-NUX-INE purifies the blood and the disease quickly disappears. 
Given occasionally at regular intervals and your birds will not contract any of 
the above diseases, even if exposed to them. 

SODA-NUX-INE is a dry powder put up in air-tight capsules. The small 
size capsule makes a gallon of medicine of the proper strength for your birds to 
drink, and this size is intended for small flocks of fifty birds or less. The large 
sixe capsules are the proper size to make an ordinary water bucket full of medi- 
cine, or from two and a half to three gallons, and is intended for flocks of more 
than fifty birds. Best results are obtained by giving it in the drinking water. 
SODA-NUX-INE does not color the water and the birds like it. Nature seems 
to tell them it is good for them. They will drink .iust what they require of it. 
You do not have to handle the birds at all. It may be given in ground feed if 
you prefer, using a gallon of ground feed instead of the drinking water. Mix the 
medicine with feed while both are dry and then moisten slightly so that none 
will be lost. 

DIRECTIONS FOR SICK BIRDS. 
DOSE — For sick birds dissolve one small capsule to each gallon of drinking 
water or a large capsule to each three gallons, being sure the birds get no other 
water to drink. Keep it before them all the time until well. The bird will regu- 
late the proper amount it requires itself. If they are hot and feverish they will 
drink a lot of it; if not so sick they will not drink so much. Nature will attend 
to the proper amount the bird should drink of the medicine. 

A PREVENTIVE FOR WELL BIRDS. 

As a preventive for well birds give it once every two weeks. The same 
strength as for sick birds, keeping it before the well fowls for three deys at a 
time once eveiw two weeks. Be sure they have no other water "those three 
days." Or mix with ground feed as explained above, if impossible to give in 
water. 

In connection with this remedy it will be necessary to clean up and to use a 
disinfectant in and around the roosting and feeding quarters. For this purpose 
use lime and use it liberally. Get. a barrel of lime and slack it; to each barrel of 
lime use a gallon of crude carbolic acid. Mix the acid in the slacked lime while 
it is in doughy state and then add water to make a good whitewash and put it 
on liberally inside the house, outside and all over and around. Soak the ground 
with this mixture. This mixture will also rid the hen house of Mites, Bedbugs, 
Ticks, Lice and all Vermin and will be a great aid in getting rid of any disease. 

PRICE. 

Small size capsules, box of 20 50c 

Large size capsules, box of 25 $1.00 

Sent postpaid to any address if your dealer does not have them. 

Page Seventy-one 



The F>alco State Bank 

Palco Kansas 

Mr. George Beuoy, 
Capon King, 

America. 
Dear Sir : - 

Last season I purchased from you 
direct a set of your No. 10 "Automatic-Safe" 
S3. 50 set of capon tools. 

I caponized forty-three birds al- 
together but only twenty-nine with the tools 
you made. The first set I used was a Pilling 
Special for which I paid $4.00 out of the 
twenty birds I used this set on, I killed six 
and the rest that lived practically all turn- 
ed out to be "SLIPS". Using your tools I did 
not kill a single bird, and only had a few 
slips. 

What I like about the "George Beuoy 
Tools" is their simplicity and ease of opera- 
tion. They can be used by any poultry raiser 
without previous experience or surgical 
skill, and they are the ones who most need 
these tools. I wouldn't trade my set of 
"George Beuoy" tools for a wagon load of the 
other kinds so far as the use of them is 
concerned. Beuoy tools are made for the 
work. The others are play things. 

I shipped thirty-nine birds to 
Richard Butler Produce Co., Kansas City, Mo. . 
and they netted me almost $35.00. They were 
mixed stock and not very good, owing to a 
shortage of feed, they only weighed 6 pounds 
each. I kept several capons thinking to try 
them at mothering my little chicks. To my 
surprise as well as to others who saw them, 
every capon took as naturally to his task 
as though he had been cut out out for it. They 
did a much more satisfactory job than most 
hens would do. Capons are to my mind the 
easiest and most satisfactory to brood little 
chicks. I do not raise but one to two hundred 
chicks each season and it solves an important 
problem for me. I believe it would be just 
as advantageous if followed on a large scale. 

Yours truly, 

J. W. CHAS. WILLIAMS, 

Assistant Cashier. 



Page Seventy-two 



LIBRRRY OF CONGRESS 



002 857 318 2 




BREEDERS PRINTING CO., KANSAS CITY, MO 



002 8i 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 857 318 2 



